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Hiotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  i4580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha  Instituta  hat  attamptad  k:o  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  thia 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couveiture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagia 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pellSculie 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiquss  rn  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  otha.*  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  piatea  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 
D 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli<  avac  d'sutres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
distorslon  la  long  de  la  marge  int^r.sure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
11  se  peut  que  certainas  pages  blanchea  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsqua  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pagea  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film«es. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  mailleur  exemplaire 
qu'i)  lui  a  itt  possible  de  fs  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  fiimage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


r~~|   Coloured  pages/ 


Pagea  da  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  rastaurtes  et/ou  pellicultes 


I      j   Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


1/  I    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicolortes.  tachetAes  ou  piquias 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachias 

0Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

f~n    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


QuaHtA  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  suppjimantaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


□    Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  peiure, 
etc.,  ont  iti  filmAes  i  nouveau  d«  fapon  k 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


0 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppiimentairas; 


Pagination  at  follows  :   [ii]  •  xxxviii,  [21  ]  - 144,  [1  ]  - 12  p. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  da  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


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26X 


XX 


12X 


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16X 


T 


20X 


iii^ 


ux 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  film«d  h«r«  has  b««n  raproducad  thanka 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

Seminary  of  Quebec 
Library 

Tha  Imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poaaibia  oonaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacificationa. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  fllmad 
baglnning  with  tha  front  oovar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
sion,  cr  tha  bacic  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  filmad  baglnning  on  tha 
firat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa* 
aion.  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  impraaaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aaeh  microficha 
ahall  contain  tha  aymbol  — »>  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  y  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 

IMapa,  plataa.  charta,  ate.,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  iarga  to  ba 
antiraly  inciudad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baglnning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  eomar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framaa  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrama  illuatrata  tha 
mathod: 


f'txAmplaira  filmA  fut  raproduit  griea  d  la 
g';n4roait*  da: 

Stoiinaire  de  Quibec 
BibMothique 

Un  imagaa  auh/antaa  ont  4t«  raproduitas  avac  la 
plua  grand  aoin,  eompta  tanu  da  ia  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  I'axamplaira  film*,  at  en 
conformit*  avac  laa  conditiona  du  eontrat  da 
fUmaga. 

Laa  axamplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  aat  imprim4a  sont  filmte  an  commandant 
par  la  pramlar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
damlAra  paga  qui  .comporta  una  ampraima 
d'Impraaaion  ou  d'liluatration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  caa.  Toua  laa  autraa  axamplairaa 
originaux  sont  film4s  an  commandant  par  la 
pramlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
dimpraaalon  ou  d'liluatration  at  w  tarrtiinant  par 
la  damlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 

Un  d<n  symbolaa  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dami*ra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  salon  la 
caa:  la  symbola  -^  signifia  "A  SUiVRE",  la 
symbola  V  signifia  "FIN". 

Laa  cartaa,  planchaa,  tablaaux.  ate,  pauvant  *tra 
filmto  A  daa  taux  da  rMuction  diff«rants. 
Loraqua  la  documant  aat  trap  grand  pour  4tra 
raproduit  an  un  saul  cliche,  11  eat  film*  A  partir 
da  I'angia  sup^riaur  gaucha,  da  gaucha  it  droita, 
at  da  haut  ar<  baa,  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagaa  nAcaaaaira.  Laa  diagrammas  suivanta 
iliuatran^  \m  mithoda. 


1 


6 


8»,  COLVltH-B   HOOSE,  AT  K.SI,I,8,  Co.    UltATM. 


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(^7 


THE   PllOPllECIES 


OF 


SS.  COLUMBKILLE, 

HAELTAMLACUT,  ULTAN,  SEADUNA,  COIllEALU 
BEARCAIi,  MALACIIY,  &c. 

.  ,  ToaETIIER   WITH 

THE  PROPIICTIO  COLLKCTANBA,  Oil  GLKANIK08  OF  8BVERAL  >yftlTKB« 

WHO   HAVE   PRKSERVED    PORTlOxN'S  OF   THE  KOW   LOST 

rROPUEClES  OF  OUR  SAINTS,  WITH  LITERAL 

TRANSLATION   AND   NOTES. 

BY  NICHOLAS  O'KEARNFX 


St.  Skna-n's    Ob 


NEW  YOK 
D.  &  J.  SAPL  Eli  &  CO..  31  ^A-KCtA^^-fS'i 

MoNTliEAi 

OOBNKU   NoTRE-DAMli  ANU  ST.  1UA-N0» 


M 


i:- 


• 


y 


CONTENT'^. 


PUKFACE         .  .  •  •  •  •  • 

LIFE    OF    ST.    COLUMBKILLE  .... 

ruOPHECY     OF    ST.    COLUMBKILLE,    ADDRESSED    TO    ST, 

BHENDAN      

ST.    COLUMBKILLE    CECINIT      .  .  •  •  • 

THE   THREE    CONNS  •  •  •  *  *  * 

THE    FALL    OF    TARA 

EIRE   THIS   NIGHT     ..•••** 

JIAELTAMHLACHT   CECINIT 

ST.   ULTAN  .CECINIT  .••••* 

SENANU8    CECINIT 

COIREALL,    SON    OP    CRONAN    CECINIT 

ST.    BEARCAN    CECINIT  .  •  -  •  * 

LIFE     OF     ST.     MALACHY,     ARCHBISHOP     OF      ARMAGH, 

A.  D.,   1148 

ST.  malachy's  prophecies 

THE  PREDICTIONS  OF  DONALL  CAM  . 

prophecy A  FRAGMENT   . 

THE  PROPHECIES  OF  MAC  AULIFFE 

THE  PREDICTIONS  OF  FION  MAC  CUM] 

A.   PROPHECY      .     •     •     ' 

I* 


xxvi 


21 
27 
43 
47 

49 
60 
04 
69 
73 
76 


PREFACE 


The  gift  of  prophecy  is  of  divine  origin.    The 
Pati'iar^'.hs,  during  tlie  early  sway  of  the  liiiman 
family,  enjoyed  to  a  lesser  or  greater  extent  this 
divine  gift;  and  the  Sovereign  Creator  of  the  uni- 
verse raised  up  prophets  among  his  favored  people, 
in  order  to  deter  them  from  the  pursuit  of  wicked 
practices,  by  preaching  to  them,  and  forewarning 
them  of  the  calamities  that  would  be  showered 
upon  them,  as  the  penalty  due  for  their  mal-prac- 
fcices.     We  read  in  the  Sacred  Volume  that  it  was 
the  Spirit  of  God  that  spoke  by  the  mouths  of  his 
prophets,  and,  therefore,  that  the   denunciations 
and  warnings  of  those  holy  men  to  the  stitf-necked 
Jews  were  the  words  of  Grod  himself.    The  gift  of 
prophecy  was  held  in  high  estimation  even   by 
those  wlio  deviated  from  the  paths  of  truth  and 
rectitude  ;  in  fact,  by  all  nations  who  enjoyed  any 
degree   of  civilization.     The   gentiles  had    Jieir 
pr->phets;  and  the  prophets  of  Eaal,  though  genor. 
ally  supposed  to  have  had  no  true  mission,  were 
held  in  high  repute  by  the  Israelites.    The  Magi, 
a  body  of  learned  pagan  priests,  were  prophets, 
and   the   Sibyls,  who  were  pagan  virgins,  va^w 


\ 


PREFACE. 


VU 


proi>lietes8es ;  so  were  the  Druids  prophets.     A.c 
cording  as  the  human  race  graduated  into  a  more 
corrupted  state,  and  as  statesmen  wished  to  look 
into  futurity  to  learn  how  long  the  fruits  of  their 
troublous  broils  would  remain  avaihible  for  them- 
selves—and, probably,  for  the  benefit  of  their  fam- 
ilies—they, having  some    sort   of   a    traditional 
knowledge,  that  the  Almighty  had  conceded   a 
certain  light  to  those  he  thought  worthy  of  it,— 
fancied  that  they  were  entitled  to  that  same  pre- 
science which  some  other  nation,  or  nations,  en- 
joyed ;   because   they,  too,  adored  a  divinity  to 
wiiom  they  foolishly  conceded  supreme  powers,  yet 
limited,  because  they  allowed  the  attributes  of  the 
Deity  to  be  distributed  between  various  imaginaiy 
beings,  for  the  human  corrapt  reason  that  one  in- 
dividual being  could  not  possibly  comprehend  all. 
This  false  philosophy  was  grounded  on  the  mate- 
rial knowledge  of  human  nature,  because  man, 
having  deviated  from  the  paths  of  rectitude,  and 
having  spurned  divine  revelation,  could  not  com- 
prehend any  thing  beyond  his  own  limited  sphere 
of  natural  knowledge.    Hence,  philosophers  and 
men  of  great  knowledge,  Socrates  and  two  (m 
three  others  exceptedj  founding  their  theories  «.n 
natural  causes,  were  infinitely  deceived  in  theii- 

conclusions. 

But  as  the  corrupt  ideas  grounded  on  human 
understanding  united,  in  some  way,  with  the  tra- 


*:t 


m 


Ki 


f 


VI 11 


PREFACE. 


(Utioiis  handed  down  from  sire  to  son,  concerninji 
rlie  gifts  of  i)rophecy  conceded  by  the  Aluiiglity 
TO  those  whom  ho  had  mercifully  selected  to  per- 
petuate his  Church  on  earth,  and  the  interests  o1 
individuals,  a  knowledge  of  future  events  was  not 
Considered  impossible,  nor  was  its  use  looked  upon 
as  unnecessary.  The  gentiles  believed  their  priest- 
hood to  have  been  possessed  of  all  that  sanctity 
and  power  from  the  deity  or  deities  which  was 
necessary  to  accomplish  all  the  endb  they  required 
from  them.  The  consequence  was  that  oracular 
sites  were  devised,  temples  erected  on  a  magnifi- 
cent scale  to  the  honor  and  worship  of  false  deities, 
merely  because  man,  devoid  of  the  true  light  of 
revelation,  relied  upon  natural  reason,  and  there- 
fore believed  that  the  deities,  conjured  by  the  dint 
of  his  own  morbid  imagination  into  existence,  were 
fully  capable  of  answering  all  his  expectations  and 
requirements.  This  was  the  leason  that  Delplr* 
and  such  places  were  held  in  esteem  by  the  vota- 
ries of  false  deities.  And  speaking  about  the 
pagans,  we  can  by  no  means  deny  that  the  aborigi- 
nal Irish,  before  they  received  the  light  of  faith, 
had  their  oracular  sites — cloch-oir  (stones  of  the 
sun),  their  EacMahhras  (speaking  steeds),  their 
Eain-cJiinn-duine  (human-headed  birds),  their 
cloch-mhagh-righ-cats  (stones  of  the  royal  cat),  «fec. 
*fcc. ;  all  these  gave  responses  to  their  votaries.  It 
is  redundant  to  speak   of   the  Harusplces,  who, 


PRKFACE. 


IX 


when  oracular  sites  were  far  away,  undei-took  tlie 
task  of  prying  into  the  womb  of  fnturitv,  at  the 
bidding  of  tlieir  masters.  Their  science, Yike  tlial 
of  Fionn  Mac  Ciimhaill,— a  specimen  of  whose foie- 
knowledge  is  presented  to  the  reader  in  tliis  vol- 
ume,—-was  derived  from  natural  appearances,  such 
as  the  inspection  of  the  entrails  of  animals  otiered 
for  sacrifice,  the  flight  of  birds,  &c.  Tho^oC  func- 
tionaries could  not  be  considered  proi3hets  in  any 
one  sense  of  the  word,  but  mere  conjecturers, 
whose  opinions  had  been  e  metinies  verified  by 
chance,  and,  probably,  by  some  preconcerted 
schemes  of  their  own  invention,  like  those  used  by 
the  greater  oracles,  involving  doubtful  meanings 
of  the  responses  given :  their  deceptions  may  be 
learned  more  fully  from  the  histories  of  Greece 
and  Rome. 

Before  we  proceed  further  with  our  little  inves- 
tigation, it  may  as  well  be  noticed  that  the  power 
of  faticination,  or  "working  miracles,  is  conceded  to 
demons,  in  consequence  of  their  nature  as  spirits ; 
bat  their  powers  in  this  respect  are  necessarily  and 
naturally  limited,  but  far  greater  than  that  of  man, 
speaking  in  a  comparative  sense. 

It  must,  however,  be  generally  allowed,  that  the 
light  emitted  by  those  pagan  philosophers,  priests, 
and  seers,  was  only  like  a  dim  one,  partially  show- 
ing at  intervals  in  the  gloomy  horizon  of  the  far 
distance,  when  compared  with  that  of  the  true  &er- 


J    ! 


tli 


PEEFACK. 


^■i 


vants  of  God,— an  ignis  fat ims,  produced  for  tlic 
npcciiil  purpose  of  leading  fallen  and  erring  man 
farther  astray. 

Yet,  while  the  powers  of  prescience  are  conced- 
ed not  only  to  the  prophets  under  the  imperfect 
regime  of  the  old  law,  but  even  to  those  who  did 
nol  acknowledge  any  of  its  tenets,  and  who  were 
evidently  instructed  by  demoniacal  agency,  there 
is  no  argument  needed  to  prove  that  the  priests  ot 
a  new  and  more  perfect  law  had  been  endowed 
with  those  miraculous  gitts.     If  necessity  be  plead- 
ed as  the  reason  that  urged  the  Almighty  to  con- 
cede such  supernatural  gifts  to  man  in  the  olden 
time,  namely,  to  deter  the  erring  race  from  wicked- 
ness by  denunciations  and  threats,  there  can  be  no 
reason  for  supposing  that  the  very  same,  nay,  even 
irreater  need  for  forewarnings,  denunciations,  and 
Threats  of  future  servitude  did  not  exist  in  after- 
times— in  those  of  our  early  Christian  missionaries, 
and,  therefore,  that  the  divine  gift  of  prophecy  did 
not,  and  as  a  matter  of  necessity  ought  not,  cease. 
Apart  from  the  fact  that  there  were  numbei-s  of 
stiff-necked  pagans  in  Ireland,  not  only  in  the  time 
of  St.  Patrick,  but  even  during  the  sway  of  Mael- 
tamlacht,  St.  Columbkille,  &c.,  and  that  nothing 
short   of  some  supernatural   power  conceded   by 
heaven  to  the  zealous  missionaries  could  wean  them 
iVom  their  old  creed,  so  as  to  embrace  the  new 
tenets  that  were  preached  to  them,  some  of  those 


'I 


PRKFACE. 


XI 


pao;an8,  being  Druuis,  were  magicians,  and  could 
effect  siipernahiral  acts  by  demoniacal  agency 
Our  seei-s  saw  the  corruption  tliat  was  to  cnmt^ 
upon  religion  and  morals,  thruugb  the  intestine 
broils  of  the  country,  the  Norseman  invasion  :i::(i 
its  consequences,  the  total  prostration  of  almost  all 
the  forms  of  Christianity,  the  English  invasion  and 
its  conseqnences—more  bitter  to  the  native  Irisli 
than  even  the  Egyptian  or  Babylonian  captivities; 
were  they,  then,  to  be  debarred,  if  matters  of  ne- 
cessity have  been  made  the  rules  for  the  working 
of  miracles,  in  the  olden  time,  from  those  gifts  of 
heaven,  in  their  days,  because  the  circumstances  of 
time  did  not  take  away  or  lessen  the  necessity  if 
Surely  not.  Therefore  God  conceded  to  us  prophets 
in  the  new  law,  as  well  as  in  the  old  law — prophe**j 
who  forewarned  us  against  the  commission  of 
crime,  and  threatened  us  with  the  consequences  of 
tfie  guilt. 

Among  the  saints  and  holy  persons  to  whom  God 
has  deigned  the  gift  of  prophecy,  stand  eminently 
St.  Patrick,  St.  Bridget  of  Kildare,  St.  Columbkille, 
St.  Maeltamlacht,  St.  Ultan,  St.  Beaican,  St.  Coir- 
eall,  son  of  Cronan,  and  several  others,  some  of 
whose  predictions  have  been  lost  in  the  lapse,  or, 
rather,  during  the  wreck  of  time.  Among  these 
St.  Columbkille  was  the  most  conspicuous,  because 
he  entered  into  the  subject  at  greater  length,  and 
is,  therefore,  the  most  revered  of  our  sainted  seers 


Xll 


PREI'ACE. 


sf 


P 


9 

f: 


ii 


There  was  a  custom,  liowever,  very  prevaleiV. 
jimongst   the   Irish— an  injurious  one  indeed   in 
many"  respects— to  reduce  the  prophecies  of  our 
v^aints  to  metre,  in  order  to  suit  the  language  of  the 
jiire  in  which  they  wrote,  as  well  as  to  render  tliein 
the  more  easily  to  be  committed  to  memory  by  the 
people,  whose  only  sohice,  under  their  galling  bond- 
age, was   the  hope,  held  out  in  those  predictions, 
of  their  even  distant  relief  from  servitude.     These 
i-hymers  w^re,  for  the  greater  number,  prophecy- 
men,  who  were  always  well  received  by  the  people, 
on   account  of  the   amount  of  information  they 
gave  concerning  their  future  liberation,  and  who 
carried  on  a  lucrative  calling — one,  at  least,  that 
insured  them  an  easy  competence  for  life— as  they 
lived  generall};  on  the  hospitality  of  the  people. 
Most  of  those  prophecy-men,  libe  modern  philoso- 
phers, who  believe  that  every  luiman  being  is  less 
or  more  inspired  with  the  gift  of  prophecy,  or  the 
second-sight  people  of  Scotland,  fancied  or  feigned 
themselves  to  be  able  to  make  the  predictions  they 
reduced  to  verse,  rendered  much  moi-e  interesting 
by  accommodating  them  to  the  men  and  matters  of 
their  time  ;  while  a  few  mce  ?crupulous  and  diffi- 
dent co'.itontcd  themselves  with  loading  their  text 
with  dark  and  cumbrous  comments — a  course  tha 
can  neither  be  commended  nor  condemned,  since 
mafiy   of  the   passages    are   almost  inexplicable, 
lius  was  one  nioue  uy  whk-u   liic  pjui/iivti^  T^iit- 


PREFACE. 

digs  of  our  sainted   seei's  have   been   much    cor 
riipted. 

There  was  another  less  excnsable  mode  adopt 
0(1  for  corrupting  our  ancient  prophetic  writings, 
though  it  cannot  be  properly  called  an  intended 
corruption,  but  it  became  so  blended  with  tlie  ^.. 
in  coui-se  of  time,  that  it  must  be  really  considered 
a  grave  corruption  of  the  originals.  There  wei*e 
in  Ireland — grievous  to  relate — persons  who — 
whether  really,  fancifully,  or  pretendedly,  is  not 
the  question  here  to  discuss — announced  that  they 
had  the  aid  of  a  pythonic  spirit  called  Leannan 
Sighe  in  Irish.  Those  villains  contrived  to  wind 
themselves  closely  into  the  affections  of  the  pei*se- 
cuted  innocent  people,  by  pretending  to  the  art  of 
faticination,  the  secret  of  knowing  the  state  of  de- 
parted souls,  as  well  as  all  the  other  future  events 
tlie  people  wished  to  know,  and  not  unfrequently 
by  contending  with,  maligning,  and  condemning 
the  teaching  of  the  clergy,  who,  with  a  zeal  scarce- 
ly credible,  when  their  persecuted  condition  is 
taken  into  consideration,  always  denounced  and 
warned  their  respective  flocks  against  the  wicked 
i  niposiures  of  this  class  of  people.    Those  py  thonics, 

or  Leannan-sighe  men,  as  a  matter  of  course,  de- 
livered oracles  si\ited  to  local  subjects  and  mat- 

jtei-s,  which  were  eagerly  received  and  retained  in 
the  memory  of  the  people ;  and  some  made  gen 

[jiine  prophecy  their  text,  wlienever  it  was  found 


If:' 


I 


I 


< 

I    ! 


5 


xiv 


PREFACE. 


Buitable  to  their  selfish  purposes.     Hence  anothei 
Bource  froui  which  unchristian  errors  crept  into  th« 
crenuine  prophetic  poems  of  our  saints. 
""  Perhaps  the  readers  of  this  preface  may  doubt 
as  to  the  possibility  of  such  persons  having  had  an 
existence,  much  more  the  license  to  pursue  such  a 
career  of  iniquitous  villany  amongst  the  faithful 
Irish  !     However,  instead  of  going  into  a  long  de- 
tail about  those  wicked  pereons,  which  cannot  be 
afforded  here,  it  is  enough  to  instance  the  name  of 
Turlogli  Kieran  of  Lordship,  near  Ballymacscan- 
lan,  in  the  county  of  Louth,  who  flourished  about 
tlie  year  1765.     It  w^ould  swell  our  pages  to  too 
large  an  extent  to  give  even  the  heads  of  the  histo- 
ry of  this  wicked  man  ;  it  is,  however,  strange  that 
he  was  able  to  hold  such  an  unbounded  sway  in 
the  estimation  of  the  people,  since  the  parish  priest 
of  Faughart,  Eev.  Brian  Kieran,  always  warned 
his  flociv  against  having  any  belief  in  his  power^  ot 
taticination,  or  holding  any  conversation  with  him. 
There  was  a  Presbyterian  named  Gibson  who  lived 
in  Xewry  some  twenty  years  ago,  and  who  followed 
pursuits  similar  to  those  of  Turlogh ;  but  he  does 
not  appear  to  havf  been  so  celebrated  as  his  pred- 
ecessor. 

There  was  a  third  source  whence  emanated  sev- 
eral corruptions  found  in  English  manuscript  copies 
of  the  prophecies  attributed  to  St.  Columbkille,  as 

3II  as  in  the  catch  penny  printed  ones,  namely, 


VVUll    It 


;ii'il 


PREFACE. 


XV 


their  amalgamation  with  ancient  pagan  traditions. 
It  is  needless  to  instance  more  than  one  of  those  in 
ehicidation,  that  is,  the  massacre  that  is  believed 
shall  be  perpetrated  npon  the  mass  of  the  Catholic 
jiopulation  of  Ulster  by  their  Protestant  neighbors, 
in  "  Gleann  na  Muice  Dicihhe'''  (Yalley  of  the 
Black  Pig).  It  is  necessary  to  premise,  before 
iriving  a  translation  of  the  history  of  the  "  Black 
Pig,''  that  all  the  oldest  and  best  copies  of  the  pre- 
dictions of  St.  Columbkille  and  other  Irish  saints, 
now  extant  in  Ireland,  have  been  carefully  exam- 
ined with  the  view  of  discovering  even  the  re- 
motest allusion  to  the  massacre  of  the  "  Yalley  of 
the  Black  Pig,"  yet  no  such  has  been  found. 
Well,  the  origin  of  this  imaginary  massacre, 
though  ludicrous  in  itself,  shows  with  what  degree 
of  tenacity  arid  correctness  the  Irish  people  pre- 
served traditionallv  the  several  historical  reminis- 
cences  of  the  country ;  for,  though  we  find  a  writ- 
ten account  of  the  murder  of  Cian,  son  of  Cainte, 
the  incidents  relative  to  it  are  much  more  minute- 
ly detailed  in  the  traditions  of  the  people,  and  it  is 
upon  those  traditions  the  prophecy  concerning  this 
expected  vengeful  murder  is  based.  It  will  be 
detailed  in  as  few  words  as  pos'^ible. 

It  is  true  that  the  real  meaning  of  the  mysterious 
i^iory  of  Cian  Mac  Cainte  is  lost  in  the  dark  maze 
of  antiquity,  but  tradition  and  manuscripts  supply 
the  deficiencv  in  an  intellisrible  manner.    Tradi- 


\E 


!    > 


1< 


XVI 


PREFACE. 


tion  says  that  Oian  was  a  wicked  Druid  who  kept 
an  academy  near  Drogheda,   and  was  wont  to 
change  his  pupils  into  swine,  for  the  mere  purpose 
of  setting  his  wolf-dogs  after  them,  and  amusing 
himself.     This  wicked  practice  having  at  length 
become  known  to  the  friends  of  his  pupils,  who 
had  often  been  lacerated  by  the  fangs  of  his  hounds, 
while  some  few  had  been  killed  in  the  chase,  the 
three  sons  of  Tuireann  resolved  to  take  revenge  of 
the  Druid,  and  having  watched  an  opportunity,  on 
the  occasion  of  his  having  changed  himself  into  a 
black  pig,  pursued  and  killed  him  near  Cnoc  Cian 
mic  Cainte  (the  Hill  of  Cian  Mac  Cainte),  some- 
times called  Killeen  Hill  in  English,  but  always 
Cnoc  Cian  mic  Cainte  in  Irish.    This  hill  is  about 
one  and  a  half  mile  north  of  Dundalk;  and  Cian's 
grave  was  seen  on  the  hill  from  the  time  of  his 
death  until  about  some  twenty  years  ago,  when  an 
isrnorant  farmer  named  Dickie,  who  owned  a  lime- 
kiln  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  tore  it  down  in  course 
of  excavating  for  the  supply  of  materials  for  tlie 
use  of  his  kiln.    The  tradition,  however,  states  that 
Cian's  hand  remained  over  his  grave  as  an  indica- 
tion that  he  demanded   satisfaction  on  his  mur- 
derers.     The  manuscript    account  of  his   death 
agrees  with  the  tradition  in  this  respect;  and  it 
was,  perhaps  still  is,  the  belief  of  the  Irish  that  a 
person  murdered,  or  wrongfully  slain,  >vas  wont  to 
hold  his  riirht  hand  over  the  crrave,  demanding 


PREFACE. 


XVll 


)  kept 
)nt  to 
arpose 
msing 
length 
3,  wlio. 
mnds, 
36,  the 
nge  of 
ty,  on 
into  a 
3  Cian 
some- 
ilways 
about 
Cian's 
of  his 
leu  an 
I  lime- 
course 
for  tlie 
68  that 
inclica- 
s  inur- 
death 
and  it 
that  a 
vont  to 
andinsf 


BatisfactioD  on  the  murderers.  Many  instances  of 
this  sort  of  pagan  superstition  can  be  adduced,  even 
so  late  as  1798  ;  but  it  is  necessary  to  proceed  with 
the  history  of  Cian,  or  the  "  Black  Pig,"  with  as 
much  brevity  as  possible,  as  we  find  it  in  a  manu- 
script termed  the  "Oidhe  Chloinne  Tuireinn" 
(Fate  of  the  Children  of  Tnireann),  which  is 
termed  by  our  archaeologists  one  of  tlie  "Three 
Sorrows  of  Story-telling." 

The  murder  of  the  "  Black  Pig"  took  place  long 
before  the  Milesian  colony  took  possession  of  Ire- 
land, namely,  in  the  reign  of  Nuadh  of  the  Silver- 
hand,  who  flourished  a.  m.  2744.  The  whole  nar- 
rative savors  of  some  religious  rite  long  since  for- 
gotten, since  the  Tuatha  Dedanans  were  said  to 
have  possessed  a  monstrous  breed  of  swine — per- 
haps the  Avatar  of  the  Hindus — and  it  is  because 
it  had  once  been  some  sort  of  a  religious  rite,  that 
it  is  suspected  to  have  been  so  long  retained  in  the 
traditions  of  the  people. 

The  death  of  Cian,  son  of  Cainte,  is  thus  related 
in  the  above-named  manuscript  piece — literal  trans- 
lation : 

"  With  respect  to  Cian  ;  he  proceeded  forward 
until  he  came  to  Magh  Muirtheimne  (now  the  county 
of  Loutli),  and  was  walking  on  the  plain.  He  was 
not  long  there  until  he  saw  three  men  well  armed 
and  appointed  coming  on  his  put-i  against  him. 
Thev  were  the  three  sons  of  Tuireann  Bem'inn, 

2* 


I  \ 


I    5 


i    it 

r?' 


i 


xviii 


PREFACE. 


11 


If  « 


namely,  Uair,  Iiicliar,  and  lucliorba.  Tliey  and 
he  were  enemies  ;  and  it  was  certain  that  wherevei 
they  met,  the  most  powerful  party  only  should  cs> 

cape. 

''  Cian  said  (to  himself),  '  were  my  brothers  here 
we  would  make  a  gallant  struggle.'  And  seeing  a 
Khiggish  herd  of  swine  hard  by,  he  struck  himself 
into  the  shape  of  one  of  the  swine,  and  commenced 
to  root  the  ground  as  the  othere  did. 

"  Thereupon,  Uair  said  to  his  brothers :— '  Have 
ye  seen  that  man  that  was  walking  on  the  lea  to- 
wards ye  V    '  We  saw  him,'  replied  they.     '  Have 
ye  noticed  where  he  betook  himself?'  'We  have 
not,' replied  they.     'You  are  very  careless  about 
the  matter,  since  you  will  not  keep  a  good  look- 
out in  time  of  war ;  but  I  know  where  he  betook 
himself— he  struck  himself  with  his  golden  wand 
into  the  shape  of  a  pig  in  yonder  herd— he  is  not  a 
friend  of  ours.'     'This  is  an  unpropitious  affair  for 
us,'  said  the  brothers.     '  The  swine  belong  to  some 
one  of  the  Tuatha  Dedanan  race,  and  let  us  kill 
them  all,  and  then  the  droidheacht  (druidical)  pig 
shall  be  discovered.'     'Ye  have  performed  your 
studies  very  inefficiently,  indeed,  since  ye  are  unable 
to  distinguish  the  druidical  animal  from  the  natural 
one.'    And  when  Uair  said  this,  he  struck  both  his? 
brothers  with  his  dark  druidical  wand,  and  meta- 
n.orphosed  them  into  two  gracile,  nimble,  sweet> 
voiced  hounds,  and  the"\  (commenced"^  to  bark  and 


Fg 


PREFACE. 


XIX 


hi 


pursue  the  chace.  In  a  little  time  the  druidical 
pig  separated  from  the  herd,  and  fled  along.  It 
discerned  before  it  a  dense  wood  (supposed  to  be 
the  wood  that  once  covered  the  site  of  the  red  bo<j! 
of  Coirteal,  county  Louth),  and  shaped  its  course 
through  it.  Tlie  pig  no  sooner  entered  the  brush- 
wood than  Uair  made  a  cast  of  his  javelin  at  the 
animal,  and  pierced  his  middle  with  the  dart.  Tlie 
pig  gave  utterance  to  a  shriek,  and  said  : — '  You 
liave  acted  very  unjustly  in  piercing  me,  since  you 
know  me.'  '  I  perceive  you  are  endowed  with  hu- 
man speech,'  said  Uair.  'I  am  of  the  Tuatha 
Dedanan  race,'  said  the  pig,  '  I  am  Cian,  son  of 
Cainte  ;  and  I  request  that  ye  will  be  kindly 
pleased  to  allow  me  a  favor.'  '  We  will,'  replied 
luchar  and  luchorba, '  and  we  feel  very  sorry  for 
all  that  has  happened  :  therefore  we  will  not  hurt 
you  more.'  '  I  swear  by  the  aerial  gods,'  exclaimed 
Uair,  '  that  if  life  came  seven  times  into  your 
body,  I  would  deprive  you  of  it.'  '  Grant  me  a 
request,'  begged  Cian,  *  before  you  put  me  to  death.' 
'  I  will,'  responded  Uair.  '  Well,  then,  allow  me 
to  assume  my  natural  shape,'  said  he.  '  I  will,' 
said  Uair,  '  because  it  is  a  much  easier  task  to  kill 
a  man  than  a  pig.'  Cian  assumed,  thereupon,  his 
natural  shape,  and  said:  'Extend  good  mercy  1o 
me.'  '  I  will  not,'  answered  Uair.  '  I  then  have 
deceived  you,  because,  if  you  killed  me,  while  in 
the  shape  of  a  ]  ig,  there  would  be  due  only  the 


i 
i 


i  1 


'^^i 


IS-: 


■Xi 


XX 


PREFACE. 


eric  (ransom  money),  for  the  killing  of  a  pig  for 
ine ;  but  since  yon  are  about  to  kill  me  in  my 
natural  shape,  there  never  was  killed  an  individ- 
ual whose  eric  shall  exceed  that  due  for  me :  and 
Ihe  warlike  weapons  with  which  I  shall  be  slain, 
shall  bring  the  report  of  my  death  to  my  son,' 
said  Cian.  'You  shall  not  be  slain  by  warlike 
weapons,  but  by  the  hard  stones  of  the  plain,' 
said  they.  And  they,  thereupon,  began  to  pelt 
him  intensely  and  impetuously  with  stones,  until 
they  reduced  the  brave  hero  to  a  shapeless  mass. 
They  then  buried  him  a  cubit  under  the  earth ;  h^^t 
the  earth  did  not  receive  him,  on  account  of  the 
treachery  that  had  been  used  towards  him.  '  Let 
us  inter  him  again,'  said  Uair ;  and  they  did  inter 
him  again,  and  the  earth  then  received  him.  The 
sons  of  Tuireann,  thereupon,  marched  after  Lug- 
haidh  to  the  field  of  battle." 

Now,  here  are  the  denunciations  uttered  by  a 
pagan  against  his  murderers,  so  far  back  as  the 
reign  of  Nuadh  of  the  Silver-hand,  and  only  a  few 
days  before  the  battle  of  Moytuir,  in  which  the 
Fomorians  were  defeated.  This  is  certainly  strange, 
.  but,  nevertheless,  true.  Two  factions  there  were, 
namely,  the  Firbolgs,  who  were  the  conquered 
race,  and  the  Tuatha  Dedanans,  who  were  the  con- 
'4ueror8;  one  of  the  subsequently  unconquered 
race  denounced  vengeance  upon  his  murderers, 
and,  strange  to  ^-elate,  this  same  threat  of  ven- 


Ml 


PRKFACE. 


XXI 


geance  lias  been  carried  down  traditionally  to  onr 
own  times,  and  made  the  basis  of  a  certain  "  bal- 
derdash prophecy,"  as  Hanmer  would  say,  very 
vulgarly  attributed  to  St.  Columbkille.  It  is  also 
deserving  of  remark  that,  for  the  vengeance  de- 
nounced upon  the  conquered  Firbolgs,  the  same 
tenor  of  opinion  has  been  handed  down  to  us ;  and 
the  Saxons,  in  like  manner,  have  been  represented 
as  a  people  who  will  make  a  bloody  massacre  ol 
the  Irish  in  the  "  Valley  of  the  Black  Pig !" 

Though  this  fact  is  one  of  the  strongest  proofs 
that  can  be  adduced  in  support  of  the  correctness 
of  our  popular  traditions,  yet,  at  the  same  time, 
there  is  danger  in  receiving  such  without  due  ex- 
amination. 

This  delusion  about  the  massacre  to  be  perpe- 
trated in  the  "  Valley  of  the  Black  Pig,"  laugha- 
ble as  it  is,  caused  the  breaking  up  of  many  a  hap- 
py home  in  Ulster — the  generally  supposed  doomed 
valley — in  times  not  very  far  gone  by.  It  was  the 
opinion  of  the  people  of  Ulster — grounded  on  tliis 
pagan  tradition — that  some  parts  of  Connacht  and 
above  the  Boyne  were  safe  from  the  range  of  this 
imaginary  midnight  massacre. 

**  A  peck  of  meal  is  more  valuable  above  the  Boyne, 
Than  a  bushel  of  gold  in  Dundealgain  (Dundalk)," 

IS  one  of  the  quotations  our  northern  prophecy 
mongers  give,  in  elucidation  of  the  terrible  strig 


;  (tti 


I 

I  'I 


it 


x\n 


PRKFAOK. 


I    i 


ole  and  general  massacre  of  the  Catholic  popnUi 
Hon  of  Ulster  by  the  Protestant  party,  in  the  "  Val 
ley  of  the  Black  Pig."    This  erroneous  and  wicked 
]>rophecy  has  done  nuich  harm,  as  remarked  above ; 
for,  whenever  any  little  commotion  darkened  tlio 
IK.Htical  horizon,  families  not  imfrequently,  in  or- 
der to  avoid  the  carnage,  fled  the  country  or  prov- 
ince, a  circumstance  which  has  caused  the  ruin  of 
many  who  might  have  been  comfortable  and  high- 
ly respectable  members  of  society  had  they  re- 
mained at   home.    This  delusion,  put  upon   the 
people,  was  not  less  injurious  than  the  stern  de- 
cree,  ''to   hell   or    Connacht,"  had  been,  in  its 
day. 

Speaking  of  these  sources  of  corruption,  we  can, 
by  no  means,  neglect  to  notice  the  traditions  of  the 
people,  no  doubt  gleaned  from  prophecies  now 
lost,  or  unknown  ;  these  shall  ineet  due  considera- 
tion in  this  work. 

Havino;  endeavored  to  show  the  reader  the  three 
principal  sources  whence  corruption  crept  into  the 
prophecies  of  our  Irish  saints,  it  remains  due  tu 
say  a  few  words  about  those  Korans,  or  compound 
of  superstition,  paganism,  and  demonism,  found  in 
the  hands  of  the  people,  under  the  specious  name 
of  the  Prophecies  of  Sts.  Columbkille,  Bearcan, 
&c.,  in  order  to  caution  them  further  against  re 
•jeiving  such  as  genuine  ones. 

It  is  really  painful  to  contemplate  the  effects  of 


illll 


PKR.FACE. 


xxn. 


the  many  and  injurious  deceptions  put  upon  tlio 
people  by  such  forgeries  as  the  MS.  and  printed 
English  copies  of  the  prophecies  attributed  to  our 
sainted  seers.    Tliere  has  been  a  sort  of  translation 
made  of  one  of  St.  Columbkille's  prophetic  poems 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Taaife,  and  printed  in  his  Life  ot 
that  saint ;  there  have  been  attempts  also  made  to 
translate  the  prophecies  of  Coireall,  son  of  Cronan, 
Ultan,  and  those  of  one  or  two  other  saints,  but  it 
has  proved  a  failure,  as  the  versions  are  very  in- 
correct, from  some  cause  or  other.     But  the  great 
compound  of  falsehood  is  embodied  in  a  book  of 
considerable  size,  purporting  to  be  the  genuine 
vei-sion  of  the  Prophecies  of  St.  Columbkillc,  which 
has  been  printed  in  Bow-street,  Manchester,  about 
twenty  years  ago.     This  pretended  prophecy  is  an 
amalgamation  of  some  few  sentences  found  in  tlu^ 
prophetic  writings  of  the  saint,  a  portion  of  the  pre- 
dictions attributed  to  Nixon,  a  considerable  portion 
of  localized  pythonicism,  and  a  suitable  leaven  of 
pagan  traditionary  lore.    This  book  was  pompously 
announced  as  the  Prophecies  of  St.  Columbkille— 
was   eagerly  bought,  and   no  estimation  can  be 
formed '  of  the  amount  of  injury  its  perusal  may 
have  done  to  the  people  into  whose  hands  it  found 
its  way.    The  original  of  this  pseudo-prophecy,  an 
old  MS.  copy  of  which  has  been  once  in  our  hands, 
purported  to  have  been  written,  more  probably 
compiled,  by  one  Stephen  Carpenter  of  Moynalty 


Ill 

r 

i      ) 

{ 


:  i! 


H 


hi 

f  il 


XXI V 


1»KEFACK. 


count)'  of  Meatli.  But  when  this  personage  liv^otl 
and  whether  he  pretended  to  have  been  a  prophet 
himself,  or  a  simple  prophecy-monger,  we  are  un- 
able to  ascertain  at  present.  One  thing,  however 
is  certain,  tliat  he  executed  his  task  with  a  snr 
pi'ising  cunning  and  tact,  rarely  to  be  found  possess 
ed  by  an  ordinary  country  peasant.  Those  spu- 
rious prophecies  have  been,  and  are  now  being 
published  in  difierent  editions,  varying  in  price 
from  one  halfpenny  to  a  shilling  ! 

The  great  object  in  publishing  the  present  vol- 
ume is  to  show  the  Irish  people  the  absurdity  oi 
those  pernicious  tracts  generally  received  as  genu- 
ine prophecy ;  and,  as  the  originals  are  given,  to 
prove  the  correctness  of  the  translation.  The  notes 
shall  be  few  as  possible,  as  the  main  object  is  to 
make  it  as  cheap  as  can  be  for  the  millions,  for 
whose  use  it  is  principally  designed. 

In  fine,  it  may  be  as  well  to  inform  the  public, 
that  the  original  Irish,  accompanying  the  transla- 
tion has  been  copied  from  old  vellum  manuscripts, 
and  that  no  pains  or  expense  has  been  spared  to 
procure  copies  wherever  they  were  known  to  have 
been  extant.  To  this  may  be  added  the  care  and 
trouble  taken  to  collate  the  transcripts  made  with 
an  old  paper  copy  of  most  of  those  prophecies 
v\hich  belonged  to  a  student,  named  O'Hagan,  of 
St.  Patrick's  Colle.ore.  Maynooth,  who,  at  his  de- 
cease, some  years  fir;  k  oequt  athed  it  to  tjie  Librai'y 


PREFACE. 


XXV 


id'  tliut  Institution,  where  it  now  lies,  and  can  be 
in9{)ected  by  the  curious.  Hence,  it  is  hoped  that 
the  antiquity  of  the  language  will  be  found  a 
sufficient  proof  of  their  originality,  and  the  purity 
of  the  metre,  of  their  perfect  correctness.*- 

In  conclusion,  it  is  only  necessary  to  observe 
that  the  sole  wi»h  of  the  Editor  is  to  make  those"^ 
old  documents  as  useful  as  possible,  in  order  to  dis- 
pel the  popular  delusion  respecting  false  proplie- 
cies,  and  to  rescue  so  valuable  a  portion  of  Irish 
history  from  oblivion.    This  being  obtained,  I  shall 
feel  a  consolation  in  having  done  so  much  of  the  • 
duty  I  consider  I  owe  to  Ireland. 


DcBLiN,  November,  1853. 


N.  O'Kkakney 


f    w 


i:. 


iU 


*  There  being  no  typo  of  old  Irisli  clmrocter  in  the  United  State*  . 
ive  are  reluctantly  obliged  to  give  the  English  translation  and  notet< 
by  themselves.  A 


T 


KE  LIFE  OF  ST.  COLUMBKILLE. 


We  copy  the  following  very  interesting  sketch  of  ilifi 
Life  of  St.  Columbkille  from  Walsh's  Ecclesiastical  Ili^s- 
■ory  of  Ireland,  recently  published. 

Columba  was  born  on  the  lih  of  December,  521 ;  he 
was  surnamed  "Columbkille,"  to  distinguish  him  from 
others  of  the  name  Columba.    We  read  that  his  birth  had 
been  predicted  by  St.  Patrick,  and  by  St.  Mavateus,  a  holy 
13riton,  Ioxmx  before  he  came  into  the  world.     His  origin 
is  most  ilhistrious :  by  the  father's  side  he  was  descended 
from  Niall  Neigiallach,  being  the  son  of  Feidhlimid,  who 
was  a  great-grandson  to  that  monarch.     Feidhlimid  was 
the  son  of  Fergus,  who  was  the  son  of  Conal  "Gulban," 
from  wiiom  the  country  of  Tirconnell  has  been  named. 
This  is  then  the  Conal  to  whom  St.  Patrick  foretold  the 
birth  and  sanctity  of  his  descendant  Columba,  and  not  the 
Conal  "Crimthan"  whose  territory  was  in   Meath,  and 
who  so  kindly  received  the  apostle  of  Ireland  at  Tailten, 
and   was    oaptized   by   him.      The   kindred   which   the 
O'Donnell  family  claim  with  St.  Columba,  is  derived  from 
Dahch,  who  was  a  descendant  of  Sedna,  the   paternal 
uncle  of  Columba.     His  mother,  Aethnea,  the  daughter 
of  Macanava  (filius  navis),  was  of  an  illustrious  and  prince- 
ly house  of  Leinster.     P  is  related,  that  before  her  deliv- 
ery of  Columba,  an  angel  appeared  to  her  in  a  dream, 
brino-ing  a  robe  or  cloak  of  extraordinary  beauty,  which, 


TlIK    LIFE    OF   ST.    COLUMBKILLK, 


XXV 11 


on  presenting  to  her,  lie  soon  after  took  away,  and  un« 
folding  it,  let  it  fly  throngli  tlie  air;  on  her  asking  the 
leason  of  depriving  her  of  it,  the  angel  replied  that  it  was 
toi>  magnificent  to  be  ]';ft  with  her.  She  then  observed 
t!ie  cloak  expanding  itself  far  and  wide  over  plains,  mouTi- 
taitis,  and  forests,  and  at  the  same  time  heard  the  words, 
''  Woman,  do  not  grieve :  for  you  shall  bring  forth  a  son 
who  is  to  be  the  guide  of  innumerable  souls,  and  who  will 
be  reckoned  as  one  of  God's  prophets." 

Tie  w^as  born  at  Garton,  and  baptized  in  the  church  of 
Tulachdubhglaisse,  by  a  holy  priest  name<l  Crothnecan 
when  very  young,  he  was  intrusted  to  the  jtnest,  who  rt- 
jijenerated  him  in  the  waters  of  baptism,  with  whom  h^ 
lived,  it  is  said,  near  the  church  of  Kilmacnenain.  Ke- 
turning  to  his  home,  on  a  certain  occasion,  the  priest  ob- 
served his  residence  illuminated  with  a  clear  lioht,  and  a 
globe  of  fire  suspended  over  the  face  of  his  pupil;  on 
which  the  holy  piiest  prostrated  himself  on  the  floor,  in 
veneration,  well  knowing  that  this  occurrence  indicated 
the  divine  grace,  which  was  abundantly  given  to  the 
young  Columba ;  while  yet  a  boy,  he  recited  the  psalms 
with  the  Bishop  Brugacius,  at  Rath-Enaigh,  whither  ho 
had  accompanied  his  preceptor,  who  had  been  invited  bv 
the  bishop,  in  order  to  celebrate  the  festival  of  Christmas. 

Having  spent  three  years  under  the  care  of  this  priest, 
and  being  now  qualified  to  enter  on  more  arduous  studies, 
Columba  was  sent  to  the  school  of  Finnian,  of  Maghbile, 
ill  the  present  county  of  Down,  then  very  celebrated  and 
much  frequented.  He  very  diligently  applied  himself,  not 
only  to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  but  also  endeavored 
to  model  himself  after  the  example  of  his  holy  pre<;eptor. 


kl 


1    *  i'-f- ! 


XXVlll 


THE   LIFE  OF 


II  !. 


i 


Here  ho  remained  several  years,  and  was  proraotc*..  to  the 
order  of  deacon  before  he  left  the  care  of  St.  Finnian 
While  officiating  as  such,  on  some  principal  festival,  tluf 
wine  for  the  holy  sacrifice  could  not  be  found,  upon  which 
Columba,  going  to  the  fountain  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
curing water  for  the  divine  service,  he  blessed  some,  in- 
voking the  name  of  Jesus,  who  had  changed  Avater  into 
Avine  at  the  marriage  feast  in  Cana  of  Galilee.  The  prayer 
was  heard ;  the  substance  of  the  water  was  changed,  and 
wine  for  the  celebration  of  the  holy  sacrifice  was  at  hand. 
Returning  to  the  church,  Columba  said  to  the  clergy, 
"  Here  is  wine  for  you,  which  the  Lord  Jesus  has  sent." 
They,  and  the  Bishop  St.  Finnian,  returned  thanks  to  God 
for  the  favor  which  Columba  in  his  humility  ascribed  to 
the  merits  of  the  bishop. 

Having  left  the  school  of  St.  Finnian,  he  repaired  to 
Leinster,  and  became  the  pupil  of  a  venerable  old  man, 
Germanus,  who  had  been  a  teacher  of  great  reputation. 
While  reading  with  him  in  a  field,  it  is  related,  a  femaK; 
who  was  pursued  by  an  assassin  fled  towards  them  for 
protection,  which,  however,  he  disregarded,  killing  her  at 
their  feet.  Columba  announced  the  sudden  punishment 
of  God  against  the  monster,  who  soon  after  was  deprive<l 
of  life.  The  time  of  his  stay  with  Germanus  is  not  as- 
certained. Having  attended  for  some  period  the  lectui'es 
of  St.  Finnian  of  Clonard,  he- returned  to  his  native  terri- 
tory Tirconnell.  He  soon  commenced  the  erection  of  a 
monastery,  the  foundation  of  which  is  assigned  to  the  year 
546,  being  then  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  Tiie 
monastery  he  erected  on  a  pleasant  eminence  studded 
with  oak?-,  called  Doire  Calgaich,  whence-  the  name  o! 


1,1 -ii 


ST.   COLUMBKILLE. 


XXIX 


Dcrry  (now  Londonderrj'),  which  owes  its  oiigiii  to  the 
establish hient  of  St.  Columba.  The  site  on  which  it  whh 
erected,  and  the  land  with  which  it  was  endowed,  were 
jj^ranted  by  his  relatives,  the  princes  of  the  country.  Hav- 
in  Of  fixed  his  monastery  on  a  firm  basis,  he  resolved  on 
visiting  other  parts  of  the  country,  with  the  view  of  simi- 
larly contributing  to  the  advancement  of  religion  and 
piety.  Having  consigned  the  care  of  his  first  establishment 
to  one  of  the  older  monks,  he  directed  his  steps  to  the 
south  of  the  ancient  Meath,  and  having  obtained  a  site 
from  a  chieftain  named  Bredon,  he  erected  his  monastery 
of  Dairmagh,  now  Durrow,  in  the  King's  county.  The 
exact  year  of  its  foundation  is  not  known,  but  it  became 
equally  celebrated  with  that  of  Derry,  and  better  known 
to  strangers. 

During  his  residence  at  Durrow,  several  prelates  ad- 
miring his  sanctity,  deemed  him  worthy  of  the  episcopal 
order,  and  accordingly  sent  him  with  letters  of  approba- 
tion to  St.  Etchen,  then  residing  at  Clainbile,  in  the 
county  of  Meath,  to  be  by  him  consecrated.  He  was  re- 
ceived by  this  prelate  with  marks  of  kindness  and  es- 
teem, and  was  shortly  after  ordaine<l  priest,  as  he  had 
an  objection  to  any  higher  advancement  in  ecclesiastical 
ilignity. 

The  bishop  Etchen  was  descended  of  an  illustrious  fam- 
ily of  Leinster  ;  his  father,  Manius  Ecceas,  and  his  mother, 
Hiig  I,  being  both  collaterally  descended  from  Niath-corb, 
the  ancestor  of  all  the  kings  of  that  province;  and  it  is 
said  Columba,  having  arrived  near  the  church  of  St 
Etchin,  inquired  for  the  bishop,  and  was  told,  "  there  he 
is  below,  plough  ng  in  »  field.-'     The  ordination  of  Co 

8» 


¥ 


M 


\  \hi 


I 


[ ' 


i 

HI 


m 


XXX 


THE   LIFK   OF 


m 


ill 


m 


Inmba  is  supposed  to  have  taken  place  a.  d.  551,  and  ir 
(.he  30th  year  of  his  age. 

Columba  is  charged  witli  being  the  cause  of  a  war  be 
twoen  the  kinof  of  Ireland  and  his  relatives,  in  which  the 
troops  of  the  monarch  were  put  to  flight,  and  three  thou- 
sand of  them  slain,  while  the  relatives  of  the  saint  lost 
onlv  one  soldier.  The  monarch  of  Ireland  threatened  to 
extirpate  the  wliolc  race  of  Tin'onnel,  and  with  that  in- 
tent marched  towards  their  territory.  Thus  was  the  moi]- 
arch  the  aggressor,  and  against  him  the  saint  threatened 
tlie  vengeance  of  heaven, — the  only  pari  he  seems  to  have 
taken  in  this  melancholy  transaction.  The  battle  in  which 
the  relatives  of  St.  Columba  were  so  signally  successful 
was  fought  at  Culdremni,  not  far  from  Sligo,  to  the  north, 
i»  the  year  561 ;  the  saint  praying,  in  the  mean  time,  to 
the  God  of  battles,  to  bestow  the  victory  on  those  whom 
the  monarch  would  have  annihilated. 

Columba,  inflamed  with  zeal  for  the  conversion  of  the 
northern  Picts,  and  of  his  countrymen  who  were  settled 
in  Argyle  and  in  other  adjacent  tracts,  resolved  to  go  and 
])reach  to  them  the  truths  of  salvation.  Before  his  de- 
parture for  that  country,  a  grant  of  the  island  of  Ily  was 
made  to  him  by  his  relative  Conall,  king  of  the  Albanian 
Scots.  Accompanied  with  twelve  disciples — Baithen,  the 
successor  of  Columba;  Cobtach,  the  brother  of  Baithen; 
Krnaan,  the  uncle  of  holy  Columba ;  Dermod,  his  steward 
or  overseer;  Rus  and  Fethuo,  the  sons  of  Rodan ;  Scan- 
dal, son  of  Bresail ;  the  son  of  Endeus;  the  son  of  Neil ; 
Luguid  Mocutheimne ;  Echoid ;  Thorannu  Mocufir ;  Cetea, 
•Cairnaan.  son  of  Brauduib,  the  son  of  Meilgi  Grillaan, — 
he  §et  sail  for  the  island,  wiere  he  arrived  after  a  short 


k 


ST.   COLUMBKILLE. 


XXXI 


passage,  in  the  year  563.  He  then  prooeec.ed  to  the 
erection  of  his  monastery  and  churcli,  and  soon  after  un- 
dertook the  conversion  of  the  northern  Picts,  who  inhab- 
ited the  whole  of  Scotland,  north  of  the  great  range  of 
the  Grampian  mountains.  The  saint  was  the  first  Chris- 
tian missionary  who  preached  in  this  wild  region ;  and 
having  repaired  to  the  residence  of  King  Brude,  whosd 
gates  were  shut  against  him  by  order  of  that  prince,  but 
on  advancing  with  his  companions,  and  making  thereon 
the  sign  of  the  cross,  the  bars  were  immediately  un- 
loosed. The  king,  as  well  as  his  council,  struck  with 
terror  at  the  prodigy,  went  forth  to  meet  Columba,  whom 
he  welcomed  in  the  most  respectful  manner,  and  treated 
with  every  mark  of  attention.  The  king  received  the 
word  of  life,  and  the  Magi,  still  anxious  to  sustain  their 
ancient  errors,  exerted  themselves  in  preventing  the  mis- 
sionaries from  preaching  to  the  people.  The  Almighty 
v/as,  however,  pleased  to  confirm  the  mission  of  Columba 
by  various  miracles.  A  boy  having  died  whose  parents 
were  converted  and  baptized,  the  magi,  hoping  to  profit 
by  the  event,  began  to  jeer  and  insult  the  parents,  and  to 
boast  that  their  deities  were  stronger  than  the  God  of  the 
Christians.  Columba,  apprised  of  the  insolence  of  the 
Magi,  went  to  the  house  of  the  parents,  and  exhorting 
them  to  have  confidence  in  the  mercy  of  God,  was 
shown  into  the  apartment  where  the  body  of  the  boy 
was  stretched.  Ordering  the  persons  who  were  present 
to  retire,  Columba  fervently  prayed  for  some  time,  and 
then,  directing  his  eyes  to  the  body  of  the  deceased,  he 
said :  ''  In  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  arise  and 
stand  upon  thy  feet"     Immediately  the  boy  returned  tr 


51  |ul 


'I'il 


I;:!il 


;!!  I>l 


XXXIl 


THE   LIFIC   OF 


lit;-;  and  tlio  saint,  taking  him  by  the  hand,  brong-ht  him 
to  his  parents,  whose  sorrow  was  thus  suddenly  changed 
into  joy  and  exultation,— and  glory  was  thus  given  to  that 
iiiul  who  confounds  the  scoffer,  by  exalting  his  saints,  and 
rendering  their  cause  triumphant.     The  exertions  of  the 
saint  were  attended  with  great  success— churches  and  re- 
ligious houses  were  erected  in  that  country  durino-  the 
tune  of  his  first  preaching  there.     He  also  left  persons  to 
instruct  the  converts  and  to  propagate  the  faith  of  Christ 
<lunng  his  temporary  absence.     It  is  said  that  he  pene- 
trated into  the  Orkney  Islands,  and  formed  cells  in  them 
His  proceedings  in  the  Western  Isles  are  better  known 
W  ith  indefatigable  zeal  lie  visited  them  frequently  preach- 
ing the  gospel-supplying  them  with  religious  instructors 
-erecting   churches,  and   founding   pious   communities. 
•  ilymba,  one  of  those  isles,  is  particularly  mentioned  as  a 
tavonte  retreat  of  St.  Columba.     Here  he  erected  a  mon- 
astery,  over  which  he  placed,  some  years  after,  his  ma- 
ternal uncle,  Ernan,  and  in  which  he  was  visited  by  four 
ounders  of  monasteries  in  Ireland-Comgall,  Cainnech, 
]>rendan  of  Clonfert,   and  Cormac  Hua  Liathain;  and 
tliere,  while  celebrating  the  divine  mysteries,  at  their  re- 
quest, and  in  the  presence  of  these  holy  men,  St.  Brendan 
saw  a  very  bright  flame,  like  a  burning  pillar,  as  if  as- 
^-nding  from  his  head,  which  continued  from  the  moment 
(>    consecration  until  the  sacrifice  was  completed.     It  was 
I'lso  in  tins  island  that  he  had  some  extraordinary  visions 
ir  Jjieaven,  which  lasted  for  three  days,  and  as  many 

He  founded  several  monasteries  in  another  island  called 
Lth.ca,  over  one  of  which  presided  Baitheu,  who  after- 


ST.    COLUMBKILT.E. 


XXX  in 


vianls  l)(!camc  his  successor  in  the  abbey  of  Hv.  A  tlis- 
c;iple  ot  his,  and  a  priest  named  Finachau,  with  whom  tho 
saint  was  displeased  for  concurring  in  having  promoted  to 
the  priesthood  Aidus  (the  black),  of  the  royal  blood  of 
tlie  Irish  Picts,  a  sanguinary  man,  who  had  killed,  besi<i,.s 
others,  Diermit,  monarch  of  Ireland,  founded  an-.th.-r 
monastery  in  the  island  of  Ethica. 

While  St.  Columba  was  engaged  in  visiting  the  adja- 
cent islands,  converting  and  civilizing  the  inhabitants,  he 
was  frequently  obliged  to  struggle  in  their  defence,  as  was 
St.  Patrick,  in  Ireland,  against  certain  depredators,  pro- 
fessedly Christians,  who  trafficked  in  the  plunder  whicli 
those  islands  afforded.  One  of  those  spoliators,  John,  of 
the  royal  family  of  Gauran,  who  was  coasting  along  the 
islands,  St.  Columba  warned  to  desist  from  liis  unlawful 
pursuit,  and  to  return  the  booty  which  he  acquired,  lest 
the  vonsfeance  of  heaven  should  overtake  him.  Despising 
the  admonition  of  Columba,  he  set  sail,  but  he  was  soon 
overtaken  by  a  violent  blast  from  the  north,  which  sank 
the  vessel,  so  that  he  and  his  companions  miserably  per- 
'shed,  as  St.  Columba  foretold. 

Having  excommunicated  some  of  the  ringleaders,  wlic 
were  of  the  royal  family  of  the  British  Scots,  one  of  their 
adherents,  Lamdess,  resolved  on  his  destruction,  rushed 
against  him  with  a  spear,  but  the  saint  providentially  es- 
caped intact,  as  the  assassin,  notwithstanding  all  his  mio-Jit 
was  not  able  to  drive  his  weapon  tlirough  the  garment  ot 
the  saint,  which  Findulgan,  a  monk  of  Hymba,  who  tluvw 
himself  between  Columba  and  his  intended  murderer,  had 
put  on. 

St.  Columba  superintended  also  the  affairs  of  the  Brit- 


'•V 


i  ! 


m 


\  i\m 


XXXIV 


TIIK    I.IFK   OF 


^  If 


isli  Scots,  and  formed  some  relig-jous  ostablishments  in 
their  kingdom  ;  one  of  tliose  near  Logh-Awc,  in  Argyle, 
was  governed  by  one  of  his  monks,  named  Cailten. 
Tliouofh  intent  in  watcliinof  the  ecelesiastical  concerns  ol 
liis  Scottish  institutions,  Coiumba  did  not  neglect  the  care 
of  those  which  he  had  formed  in  Ireland.  Thitlier  he 
sent  messengers  to  transact  the  business  relative  to  their 
management,  and  repaired  himself  in  person,  when  mat- 
ters of  importance  required  that  he  should  appear.  He 
was  frequently  visited  by  persons  from  Ireland,  who  were 
either  his  friends  or  others  who  were  desirous  of  consult- 
ing liim  on  religious  subjects.  Such  he  always  received, 
whether  of  high  or  low  condition,  with  the  greatest  kind- 
ness, and  entertained  with  becoming  hospitality. 

Among  those  Irish  visitors  was  an  Aldus,  a  very  reli- 
gi'jus  man,  who  had  lived  twelve  years  with  St.  Brendan 
of  Clonfert.  On  the  dav  before  his  arrival,  Oolumba  sai<l 
to  his  brethren,  "  We  intend  to  fast  to-morrow,  as  usual, 
because  it  will  be  Wednesday,  but  on  account  of  a  stran- 
ger who  will  be  with  us,  the  fast  will  be  broken."  Such 
was  the  discretion  of  Coiumba,  that  he  did  not  scruple  to 
iy)\e  necessary  refreshment  to  a  wearied  traveller,  without 
obliging  him  to  wait  for  the  ordinary  hour  of  taking  food 
on  a  fast-day.  Cronan,  a  bishop  of  Munster,  was  another 
visitoi',  who  did  not  through  humility  wish  that  his  dig- 
nity, as  a  bishop,  should  be  known  to  Coiumba.  But  in 
tiie  celebration  of  mass  the  bishop  having  called  on  the 
saint  to  join  him  as  a  priest  in  breaking  the  Lord's  bread, 
Coiumba  came  up  to  the  altar,  and  looking  him  in  the 
face,  said,  "  Christ  bless  you,  brother,  do  you  alone  break 
it,  according  to  the  episcopal  rite,  for  now  we  know  that 


ST.   COLUMBKIIJ.K. 


XX  \V 


you  are  a  bishop.  Wliy  have  you  hitherto  on.leavort'*!  tu 
conceal  yourself,  so  as  not  to  let  us  pny  that  veueintion 
due  to  you  by  us  V 

Columba  was  held  in  the  highest  veneration  by  clcii-v 
and  people,  as  well  as  the  sovereigns  of  Ireland  and  tli<-s.i 
of  Britain  ;  an  instance  of  which  occurs  in  his  liaviny 
been  the  person  selected  for  inaugurating,  or  as  his  h'n)\s- 
raphers  express  it,  "  ordaining  Aidanas  king  of  the  liiitisii 
Scots,"  after  the  death  of  Conal.  The  saint  was  unwilling 
to  inaugurate  Aidan,  as  he  was  more  inclined  to  liave  Eu- 
gene, Aidan's  brother,  raised  to  the  throne  ;  but  having 
been  repeatedly  warned  by  nocturnal  visions  to  ordain 
Aidan  as  king,  he  consented  to  do  so;  and  the  priiu;e 
having  arrived  at  his  monastery  of  Hy,  Columba  performed 
ilie  ceremony.  Cumineus  and  Adamnan  relate,  that  wluni 
Columba  was  in  the  island  of  llymba,  an  angel  appeared, 
holding  a  book,  which  the  heavenly  messenger  ordered 
him  to  read,  and  to  ordain  Aidan  king,  as  that  book  com- 
manded. The  saint  refusing  to  obey  the  order,  we  are  as- 
sured, was  struck  with  a  whip,  and  a  mark  was  left  which 
remained  during  Iiis  life.  The  angel  then  assured  him 
that  he  was  -  by  the  Aln^^ghty,  and  threatened  to  re- 
peat the  ionm  usernent  if  he  would  persist  in  his 
disobedience. 

Henceforth  Columba  became  much  attached  to  Aidan, 
ior  whom  the  predilection  of  lieaven  was  so  signally 
manifested,  and  afterwards  evinced  his  anxiety  for  the  wef- 
tare  and  prosperity  of  this  king,  whose  inauguration  was 
i)lessed  by  his  own  hand.  When  Aidan  was  afterwards 
commencing  a  battle  against  the  enemies  of  his  kingdom, 
Columba,  then  in  the  monastery  of  Hy,  ordered  his  at 


i 


i;   _ 

♦  i.-I 


XXXVl 


TIIK    LIFE   OP 


,1  > 

111 


ttMi.Jnnt  Dicrmit  to  strike  tlie  bell,  upon  which  the  nioiiki 
hastened  to  the  church,  to  whom  he  announced,  liaviiiij; 
liist  devoted  some  time  to  prayer,  that  Ihe  barburiuns 
were  defeated,  and  that  Aida?i  had  gained  a  victory,  yet 
not  without  great  loss  on  Iiis  side. 

hi  the  year  590,  St.  Columba  paid  a  visit  to  Ireland- 
an  Mssembly  being  at  that  time  Ijeld  at  Diumceat,  in  the 
<'ounty  of  Berry.     Aidus  was  then   monarch  of  Ireland, 
and  Columba  was  invited  in  the  most  pressing  manner  to 
assist  at  this  national  convention.     It  appears^  that  one  of 
its  objects  was  the  suppression  of  the  Bardic  institute, 
against  which  was  raised  a  cry  of  general   dissatisfaction 
throughout  the  country.    Various  were  the  charges  which 
the  enemies  of  the  order  preferred ;  and  to  destruction 
would  the  whole  order  have  been  doomed,  Iiad  not  Co- 
lumba interposed  his  good  offices.     Upon  his  advice  it 
wius  arranged  that  their  number  should   be  limited,  and 
that  certain  rules  should  be  adopted,  by  which  annoyance 
to  the  public  would  be  removed.    From  Drumceat  St.  Co- 
lumba repaired  to  his  favorite  monasteries  of  Derry  and 
Durrow  ;  he  afterwards  visited  Clonmacnoise,  where  he 
was  received  with  great  marks  of  attention  and  kindness. 
At  this  time  lie  also  visited  the  abbey  of  Ballysadare 
whitlier  St.  Muridach,  bisliop  of  Killala,  and  St.    Derv' 
hail,  a  holy  nun  of  Erris,  came  to  pay  him  their  respects, 
with  whom  he  must  have  tarried  some  time,  as  he  is  enu- 
merated among  the  saints  who  blessed  the  port  of  Killala. 
His  next  visit  was  to  St.  Comgall,  of  Bangor;  thence  he 
went  to  Coleraine,  to  which  place  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country  came  in  multitudes  to  see  him  and  obtain  hia 
b^^nediction.    St.  Columba  returned  to  his  monastery  of 


ST.    COLUMBKILLE. 


XXXVUi 


(1 


Uy,  and  thongli  now  far  advanced  in  years,  continued  to- 
govern  both  it  and  liis  other  relijrions  establishments. 

The  Iiappy  day  of  his  release  from  toil   approa(rliin<r 
Cohnnba,  attended  by  Diermit,  went  to  bless  the  bam 
Nvlnch  belonged  to  the  monastery,  and  having  acquainted 
his  faithful  attendant  that  the  last  of  his  days  lind  arrived 
he  ascended  an  eminence,  and  with  upraised  hands  ^avJ* 
his  benediction  to  the  monastery.     On  his  return  to  the- 
abbey  he  sat  down  in  an  adjoining  hut,  and  copied  a  pnrt- 
of  the  Psalter ;  and  having  come  to  a  passage  in  the  33d' 
Psalm,  "Inquirentes  autein  Dominum,  non  defident  omni- 
bono,"  he  stopped,  and  said,  "Let  Baithen  write  the  re- 
mainder." 

The  saint  afterwards  attended  vespers  in  choir,  and  then, 
retired  to  his  cell,  where  he  reclined  on  a  bed  of  stone, 
and  gave  instructions  which  were  to  be  at  a  future  time 
delivered  to  the  brethren  of  his  establishments.  The  hour 
for  midnight  prayers  having  arrived,  Columba  hastened  to 
the  church  ;  his  attendant  soon  after  entered,  and  found 
him  in  a  reclining  posture  before  the  altar,  and  at  the 
point  of  death.  Immediately  the  monks  were  assembled, 
who  were  expressing  their  sorrow  with  tears,  but  the  saint 
raising  his  eyes,  viewed  them  with  a  bright  and  cheerful 
countenance,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Diermit,  who- 
raised  his  right  hand,  Columba  gave  a  final  benediction  to 
the  community,  and  resigned  his  soul  into  the  hands  of 
his  Savicmr,  whom  he  faithfully  served,  on- the  mornincr  of 
Sunday,  the  9th  of  June,  A.  D.  597,  and  in  the  seventy- 
sixth  year  of  his  age. 

The  memory  of  this  great  and  extraordinary  saint  is 
and  ever  will  be  held  in  the  highest  veneration;. not  only, 

4 


I    |i 


,    I 


h  -Urn 


XXXVUl        TIIK   UFK    OF    ST.    COLUMUKILLK. 


i  ■    ^  if 

H;  *■*■ 


■   ■'!« 


in  Irelaiul,  luit  also  in  Scotland,  tlic  I  If  brides,  find  over 
the  western  cliurch.     Tliouo-li  only  a  priest,  St.  Coliunh-k 
cxereised  ceelesiastieal  jurisdiction  even  over  the  bishujts 
of  tliose  countries,  and  this  sini^ular  piivilege  was  reserved 
t')  Ills  snccessors  a  considerable  time  after  his  deatli,  ns  a 
niaik  of  respect  to  his  memory.     St.  Columba  drew  np  a 
monastic  rule,  which  was  strictly  and  faithfully  observcti 
in  all  the  houses  of  his  institute.     He  composed  several 
tracts  in  prose  and  verse,  aboundinir  with  scriptural  knowl- 
edge and  theological  research.    Three  of  his  Latin  liymiis 
liave   been   published — the  first,  commencing  with  tlit- 
eternity,  unity,  and  trinity  of  God,  embraces  other  sacred 
subjects,  and  concludes  with  a  description  of  the  day  of 
judgment,  the  general  resurrection,  and  the  rewards  of  the 
just  and  the  impious.     lie   has  also  left  a  beautiful  tract 
in  honor  of  St.  Kieran  of  Clonmacnoise.     His  last  com- 
])osition  was  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick  written  in  the  Irish 
lano-uaixe. 

"The  prophecies  of  St.  Columbkille  have  ever  siiuje  his 
time  been  familiar  to  the  Irish  people,  amongst  whom  they 
are  often  quoted  in  connection  with  the  subsequent  liistoi-y 
of  their  country.  Their  authenticity  has  been  questioned 
even  by  Irish  writers,  yet  they  are  admitted  by  all  to  be 
amongst  the  most  remarkable  documents  of  our  own  or 
any  other  country.  There  is  no  Irishman,  no  student  oi 
Irish  histoiy,  who  would  not  wish  to  be  acquainted  with 
St.  Columbkille's  Prophecies." 


'  iffl 


THS 


IMIOI'IIECIES  OF  ST.  COLUMBKILLE. 


ADDr.ESSED  TO  ST.  BRENDAN. 


Thk  time  sliall  come,  O  ]]reiKlan,* 
When  you  Avoiild  feel  it  painful  to  reside  iu  Erin  ; 
The  sons  of  kings  shall  be  few  in  number, 
And  the  literati  shall  be  deprived  of  dio-nitv. 

They  (the  people)  will  continue  to  reside  in  stone  mansi(,ns. 
They  will  inhabit  the  islets  on  the  lakes; 
'J'hey  will  not  perform  cliaritable  acts, 
And  truth  shall  not  remain  in  them. 

They  will  plunder  tlie  property  of  the  church, 
They  will  take  preys  of  cattle  furtively ; 
They  will  treat  men  of  learning  disi-espectfullv, 
Afterwards  tiiey  themselves  shall  become  powerless. 

*  O  Brendiim.  This  was  St.  Erendnn,  wliom  St.  Colurnbkillc  is 
represented  ns  addressing;  probably  the  poem  was  a  letter  tlon, 
fc't.  Colunibkille  to  bis  Iriend. 


i   j 


22 


THE   PKOniECIES    OP 


ft    It 


The  sons  of  kings  (great  men)  will  become  arcliajologi'^ts, 
"Aid  descendants  of  sages  shall  become  ignorant; 
They  will  be  continually  sneering  at  each  other, 
They  will  employ  themselves  at  reading  and  writing. 

They  will  scoff  at  acts  of  humanity,* 

And  at  irreproachable  humility ; 

Men  of  learning  shall  become  rare  amonir  them. 

A         1     •  Or 

And  igi.orant  men  shall  prosper.. 

There  shall  come  times  of  dark  affliction,      • 
Of  scarcity,  of  sorrow,  and  of  wailing. 
In  the  latter  ages  of  the  world's  existence; 
And  monarchs  will  be  addicted  to  falsehood. 

Neither  justice  nor  covenant  will  be  observed, 
]3y  any  one  people  of  the  race  of  Adam  : 
They  will  become  hardhearted  and  penurious, 
And  will  be  devoid  of  piety. 

Men  will  become  murmurers, — 

The  trees  shall  not  bear  the  usual  quantity  of  fruit; 

Fisheries  shall  become  unproductive, 

And  the  earth  shall  not  yield  its  usual  abundaticc. 

The  clergy  will  become  fosterers, 

In  consequence  of  the  tidings  of  wretchedness  (that  wil]- 
reach  them) ; 

*  This  stanza  gives  a  true  description  of  the  ignorance  and  ic^au* 
mai  ity  of  the  task-  masters  of  the  Irish  people. 


8T.   COLUMBKILLE. 


Cliurches  shall   be  held  in  bondage  (i.  e.  become  private 

property), 
By  the  all-powerful  men  of  the  day. 

Inclement  weather,  and  famine  shall  come, 
ilatred,  malignity,  and  despair ; 
The  natural  span  of  human  life  shall  be  abrid(/-e(.l, 
And  fishes  will  forsake  the  rivers. 

The  people  oppressed  by  want  of  food,  shall  pine  to  death, 
Meanwhile  they  shall  be  bound  in  slavery  ;* 
And  in  consequence  of  their  enmity  to  one  another. 
Dreadful  storms  and  hurricanes  shall  afflict  them. 


im 


■m 


Judgesf  will  administer  injustice, 
Under  the  sanction  of  powerful,  outrageous  kiao-s  ; 
The  common  people  will  adopt  false  principles,  "^ 
Oh,  how  lamentable  shall  be  their  position  ! 

Doctors  of  science  shall  have  cause  to  murmur, 

They  will  become  niggardly  in  spirit ; 

The  aged  will  mourn  in  deep  sorrow. 

On  account  of  the  woeful  times  th^rt  shall  prevail. 

*  The  two  first  verses  of  this  stanza  give  a  correct  picture  of  tlie  state 
of  distress  to  which  the  people  have  been  frequently  reduced  by  tlieir 
oppressors  ;  the  word  daem  (slavery,  bond»go),  has  evidentlv  rcfor- 
I'nee  either  to  the  slavery  under  which  the  poor  groaned 'durino 
tunes  of  starvation,  or  to  their  confinenieiit  in  the  workhouse^  dur" 
mg  the  late  famine. 

t  This  stanza  appears  to  indicate  the  injustice  dealt  upon  the  Irl^h 
people  through  the  partiality  of  judges  and  juries  supported  by  suto 
protection.  "^ 

4* 


iij 


'  '     ?  '^"^ 


1 1 


24 


THE   PROPHKCIES   OF 


Cemeteries  shall  become  all  red  (dug-  up),* 

In  consequence  of  the  wrath  that  will  follow  sinners; 

Wars  and  contentions  shall  race 

In  the  bosom  of  every  family. 

Kings  (great  men)  shall  be  steeped  in  poverty, 

They  will  become  inhospit^ible  to  their  guests. 

The  voice  of  the  parasite  will  be  more  agreeable  to  them 

Than  the  melody  of  the  harp  touched  by  the  sage's  fin o-er 

Tlieir  candles  shall  be  quenched,f 

AVithout  intermission  each  sabbath-day  ;  [tices 

In  consequence  of  the  general  prevalence  of  sinful  prac- 
Humility  shall  produce  no  fruit. 

The  pi-ofc?sors  of  science  shall  not  be  rewarded, 
Amiability  shall  not  characterize  the  people, 
Prosperity  and  hospitality  shall  not  exist, 
But  niggardliness  and  destitution  will  assume  their  place. 

The  chai^ges  of  seasons  shall  produce  only  half  their  verdure, 
The  regular  festivals  of  the  church  will  not  be  observed  ;t 
A.11  classes  of  men  shall  be  filled 
With  hatred  and  enmity  towards  each  other. 

*  A  true  picture  of  tlie  present  condition  and  feelings  of  the  peo- 
ple. * 

t  The  two  first  lines  of  this  stanza  evidently  refer  to  the  chancre  ot 
ceremonies  adopted  by  the  reformers  in  disusing  candles 

X  Beait  an  t-mere  da  IHseadh.  This  verse  contains  the  prediction 
oi  the  discontinuance  of  the  obligation  to  refrain  from  servile  works 
cm  holy  days  by  the  reformed  Church,  and  the  subsequent  retrencn- 
mcnt  of  several  holy  days  by  the  Catholic  Church,  in  consequence 
of  the  necessity  imposed  on  the  people  of  many  districts  to  work  oo 
tliobe  days, 


I 


ST.    COLUMBKILLE. 


2b 


The  people  will  not  associate  affectionately  with  each  other, 
Daring  the  great  festivals  of  the  seasons ; 
They  will  live  devoid  of  justice  and  rectitude, 
^  Up  from  the  youth  of  tender  age  to  the  aged. 

The  clergy  shall  be  led  into  error,* 

By  the  misinterpretation  of  their  reading; 

The  relics  of  the  saints  will  be  considered  powerless, 

Every  race  of  mankind  will  become  wicked ! 

They  will  construct  islands 
Upon  the  pools  of  clear  water  (lakes) ; 
Numberless  diseases  shall  then  prevail, 
When  Ath-na-cuilte  shall  be  drained.f 

Sons  of  kings  will  not  have  sureties  of  kine, 
Fortifications  will  be  built  narrow ; 
During  those  times  of  dreadful  danger, 
Persons  born  to  inheritances  shall  be  son-owful. 

Young  women  will  become  unblushing, 
And  aged  people  will  be  of  irascible  temper; 
The  kine  will  seldom  be  productive,  as  of  old ; 
Lords  will  become  murderers 

*  Evidently  alludes  to  the  various  versions  of  the  Scriptures  in- 
troduced by  the  reformers  and  their  followers,  if  not  to  tlie  abuse  of 
private  intorprotation  of  the  sacred  ^lumo.  Mionnhcre  means  tlie 
head,  or  other  holy  relic  of  a  saint,  and  also  an  oath  ;  because  peo- 
ple used  to  swear  by  the  head  or  other  relic  of  a  saint.  The  verso 
may  also  be  Te&d—Oaths  shall  not  be  considered  binding  on  conscience. 

t  Ath-na-cuilte.  In  one  copy  Ath-na-helite.  Most  commentators 
suppose  this  place  to  be  the  present  Annahilt,  near  Hillsborough, 
county  of  Down,  contiguous  to  whieh  is  now  a  hog,  probably  tht 
state  of  drainage  to  which  reference  is  nuide  in  the  text. 


'WW 


fm 


»;  ill! 


I    J 


I 


sn 


TIIR   PROnilvCIfiS    OF 


iHi 


[ 


^'ouiio;  people  will  decline  in  vigor, 

TIk'V  will  despise  those  who  shall  h;u'<j  Lo?j'7  hair: 

1  here  shall  be  no  standard  by  which  morals  may  be  reii 

ulated, 
A:i.l  niarriao-es  will  be  solemnized  tvithoiit  witnesses,* 

Tionblous  shall  be  the  latter  ages  of  the  world, 
According  to  the  Book  of  Truth  : — 
The  clergy  shall  become  ignoraurf 
Concerning  the  real  festivals  of  t))o  church. 

The  dispositions  of  the  generality  of  men  I  will  poir/  -i.^t, 
From  the  time  they  shall  abandon  hospitable  habit:.-  • 
With  the  view  of  winning  honor  for  themselves, 
Tliey  will  hold  each  other  as  objects  for  ridicule. 

I  ;;ni  Columbkille, 

A  prophet  that  speaks  wi:,h  peiispicuity ; 

I  can  discern  in  my  little  book 

The  clear  explanation  of  all  knowled^^e. 

The  possessors  of  abundance  shall  fall 
Through  the  multiplicity  of  their  falsehoods ; 
Covetousness  shall  take  possession  of  every  gluUon, 
And  when  satiated,  their  arrogance  will  know  no  bounds. 

*  And  marriages  shall  be  solemnized  without  witnesses.  Flaq/imn 
M.  the  text,  seems  to  mean  testimony,  &c.,  thou,rh  in  many  ptlrts  of 
rehuKl  n  BjKn.flcs  issne,  posterity,  &o.  Ex.  -B/einagus  a  fkkcd- 
ham  na  dlnaigk-  (he  himself  and  his  posterity  after  liim).  If  we 
mlupt  t.e  atter  meanin.  the  reading  then  is:-"J«^  maniuass 
mall  not  be  blessed  with  an  issue:'  ^ 

t  Vide  note,  p.  24. 


ST.    COLUMBKILLE. 


27 


notvveeii  the  inothci   md  dano-hter. 

Anger  and  bitter  sarcasms  shall  continually  exist; 

Neighbors  will  become  treacherous,* 

Cold,  and  false-hearted  towards  each  other. 

The  gently  will  become  grudgeful, 

With  respect  to  their  trifling  donations ; 

And  blood  relations  will  become  cool  towards  each  othe: 

Church  livings  shall  become  lay  property. 

All  classes  of  people  will  be  addicted  to  robbery, 
Lords  will  become  cold-blooded  murderers ; 
Ill-will  and  exclusive  dealino-s 
Shall  subsist  between  father  and  son. 

Such  is  the  description  of  the  people, 
Who  shall  live  in  the  ages  to  come ; 
More  unjust  and  iniquitous  shall  be 
lilvery  succeeding  race  of  men  ! 

The  time  shall  come,  <fec. 


-♦^♦- 


SAINT  COLUMBKILLE  CECINIT. 

Hearken  thou,  Boithin,t  with  attention, 
To  the  chime  of  my  bell  in  chilling  Ily ! 

*  A  true  picture  of  the  present  state  of  social  iiiteroourse. 

t  This  St.  Boithin  was  a  contemporary  of  St.  Columbkille ;  it  wRa 
lie  tliat  founded  Mainistear  Boithin,  now  Monasterboice,  in  tiie 
county  of  Louth.  A  raving,  ignorant  antiquary  asserts  tliat  St. 
Boithin  was  no  less  a  personage  than  the  river  Boyne !  and  tliere- 
tore  imaginary.  But  there  is  a  wide  ditTerence  between  the  names 
Boithin  and  lioinru 


L>S 


THE    PKOPIIWCIES    OF 


riitil  I  relate,  after  liavino-  fiiiisliea  my  psalniodv, 
'llmios  tliMt  sJiall  come  to  pass  in  the  latter  agx-s  of  ll 
woiltl. 


m 


<"iivat  caniao-e  shall  bo  made,  justice  shall  be  oiUnso-ed, 
Miiltitiidinoiis  evils,  great  suftering  shall  prevail,  and  many 

unjust  laws  will  be  administered  ; 
Leath  Cuind  is  causing  great  apprehension  tc  ^ •■ 
Above  all  other  people  upon  the  fair  surface  o.      .  ejirtli. 

Though  they  shall  be  a  pious,  noble  race, 

They  shall  be  reduced  to  a  state  of  distress  in  latter  times  ; 

A  haughty  clergy,  and  powerful  kings, 

^Vill  cause  their  complete  thraldom  and  lasting  sorrow. 

3^:\ eiy  act  that  shall  cause  their  dispersion  is  decreed, 
According  to  the  will  of  the  Son  of  the  lilessc-d  Viio-i„ 
Marv, 

*  '''  *  *  ^^  a  great  event  shall  happen,  [tive 

a  fail  not  to  notice  it :— rectitude  shall  be  its  specious  mo-' 

But  if  ye  be  not  active  pure, 

A  more  sorrowful  event  cannot  possibly  happen  : 

Outside  (despite)  of  Alba  the  mediatrix, 

There  shall  be  a  defeat  in  the  battle  of  the  Lageniaus. 

There  shall  be  a  sou  of  youth,  a  successful  king,* 
He  will  be  a  noble  personage,  and  an  Archbishop ; 
On  a  Tuesday  Cormac  the  gentle  shall  be  slain, 
Justice  will  be  his  object,  and  sincerity  his  pursuit. 

*  This  stanza  relates  to  Cor.nac  Mac  Cuillenau,   Archbishop  o^ 
CashelaudkingofMuiister.  ^ 


ST.    COLUMBKILLE. 


20 


^ot^vlLllstandmg  all  circumstances,  ii  shall  be  on  Thursday 
The  vital  spark  shall  depart  Jrom  the  king's  body  :—       ' 
Ailer  that  an  illustrious  person  will  come'' 
From  Meath,  with  a  strong  body  of  forces. 

His  power  shall  extend  from  shore  to  shore  : 

A  fleet  will  arrive  in  Loch  Ribh, 

That  fleet  of  Loch  Ilibh,'* 

Shall  prove  advantageous  to  the  stranger  race. 

The  abbacy  of  Armagh  shall  be  subject  to  them  f 
Their  career  shall  be  similar  to  that  of  sovereign  pnnces 
Ihirty  years  after  that  shall  last 
The  sovereignty  of  the  Adulterer. 

All  will  adhere  to  him  to  their  disgrace, 
Until  lie  shall  depart  this  life  at  Clovne'of  Kiaran  • 
Atter  that  the  Cairneacht  will  assume  the  sovereicnUv 
Ot  Eire  without  interruption.  "^^    ^ ' 

Fifteen  years,  in  vigor  and  purity, 

Shall  the  CAIRNEACII  reign  as  supreme  Kino-  • 

Should  the  OAIRNEACII  be  counselled  by  me  ' 

lie,  the  liberal,  the  hilarious,  the  pious,  and  the' hopeful, 

*  loch  Eihh     This  stanza  evidently  alludes  to  the  fleet  of  the 
Norsemen  that  landed  in  Connacht. 
t  TJiis  stanza  gives  the  desecration  of  Christian  Churches  hy  tlie 

^X:^^:^ ''""' '"  '"""■•  "^  '^°  --'  °^"'»  ^^'^•'-"' • 

J  Cairneach  means  a  saeriflomg  priest,  bat  k  p„t  here  for  •,  lierc 
succedcil  Mael»eachl.uu,  afiUo  called  a  Cairneach. 


'i:-  r: 


V 


.^0 


THK    I'ROPIIKCIES    OF 


' 


I    •!. 


Uc  would  avoid  ioiiiiiiir  in  the  terrific  stniiriile. 
In  which  he  will  eiiQ:ao:e  on  CloiitHif ; 
(/h>ntarf,  the  field  whereon  shall  be  foiifrht, 
'I'he  vciy  terrific,  gory,  tumultuous  battle. 

In  consequence  of  which  multitudes  of  men  shall   be  If.id 

ju'ostrate  in  gore, 
I  |»on  the  field  possessed  by  the  wily  man  ; 
The  Mael  will  afterwards  appeal*, 
He  shall  spring-  from  a  tribe  in  South  Leinster. 

lititain  sLall  be  tributary  to  him, — * 
A  matter  of  fact  that  cannot  be  controverted, — 
That  same  Mael  of  the  unsheathed  swords. 
Will  bi-eak  the  battle  of  Silabh  Grot. 

That  Mael,  without  either  struggle  or  prohibition, 
Shall  repel  the  king  of  Munster ; 
That  king  shall  be  the  valiant  CAIRNEACH, 
Who  will  break  the  battle  of  Glen  Madhma.f 

He  will  immure  the  foreigners  in  tlieir  fortresses. 

And  will  operate  a  change  to  their  disadvantage  ; 

Yet  that  same  Mael,|  the  son  of  Donn, 

Sliall  prove  injurious-  to  Leith  Cuinn,  the  seat  of  literature. 

*  This  stanza  is  not  easily  undorstood,  unless  we  adopt  the  tra- 
dition often  hcjird,  that  an  Anglican  king  solicited  aid  from  Brian, 
*^oon  after  he  assumed  the  supreme  government  of  Irc'and,  as  genu 

iiie  history. 

t  The  buttle  of  Glen  Madhnia  was  fought  by  Brian  Boroime  against 
the  J)anes  and  their  allies. 
X  Gian.  Mael  sin  mac  an  Du'mn.    Mael,  in  Irish,  signities  a  ton- 


RT.    COLUMBKILT.E.  3^ 

11'  will  l.c.  I.ospirable  fUKJ  K-i,Kl  toNvrmls  his  frjciuls, 
i Jilt  mifiKMidly  towards  sti angers; 
If  tliis  so,,  of  Donn  would  be  advised  by  me, 
!!'•  uoiild   not  persecute  Leath  Cuinii  *  ' 

L..-.rl.  Cuinn  renowned  for  warlike  feats  shall  suffer 

1  ..ou.^I.  the  .nacl.inations  of  the  treacherous  murderer -f 

hough  this  sanguinary  man  will  clearly  discern 
J  he  consequences  both  near  and  afar. 

This  murderer,  though  a  man  of  clear  judgment, 
Miall  be  slain  by  the  hand  of  another  munlerer  • 
After  that  time  the  Fionn  BanJ  will  appear  ;  ' 
He  will  come  from  Munster— a  great  pest. 

After  hard  sti-uggles,  and  protracted  warfare, 

U.  will  assume  the  sovereignty  of  two  thirds' of  Ireland  ; 

•niMer  In.  or  her  special  protection,  as  for  instance,  Mael-natruicc 
^..van    or  protcg^  of  St.  Patrick,  Mael-CoIm„b,  the  se  v  nt  o    p  o 
re,6  0    St.  Colun^bkille,  Mael.Bri,hite,  the  ser'vant  of  St    Br  let 
|U- ,  these  cognomens  became  family  names  in  after-times  as  Mn  ^ 

I     m'  ':\!\'rT''''  Mael-Cohnnb,  or  Malcohn.  Mae tBrfde    or 
Mac  Mael  Br.ghide,  Mac  Bride,  &c.    Bonn  signifies  brown-    Ld 

\  e  are  not  aware  whether  Cincide,  father  of  Brian,  was  or  w  vsnot 

own  hatred  ;  however,  ,onn  n.eans  also  a  valorou^  uLn     ^  Lbly 

tlii^  IS  the  true  meaning  of  the  text.  t'"-'«iuiy 

*  LeUk  Cuinn  Coim's  half,  the  northern  part  of  Ireland,    /eifh 
M.'oJm,  the  southern  portion,  or  Mogha's  half 

Zv.^f^l't^'V'^^"^'  treacherous  murderer.    This  epithet  is  not 

•   n  ci^  to,      r       .r?'  ^"' '"  ^"'  brother-in-law,  Murchadl,,  king 
'^f  l.cinster,  who  richly  deserved  it. 

nlJ^Z!^^'^"^  '''"  fair-haired.  It  is  hard  to  guess  who  U 
n  u„t  by  this  Iionn,  except  Donogh  son  of  Brian.  He  is  said  tc 
tome  irom  Carricklea  in  Munster. 


'{1:3 


:f  ^ ;  > 


iii 


Urn 


TIIK   I'KOniKOrKS    OF 


T\u»  furious  Fionn  from  Cunick  Leitlj, 

Shall  possess  u  spirit  neither  hesitative  uor  timid. 

This  person  shall,  not  meet  a  violent  death — a  gn-at 
But  shall  die  at  Cinn-coradh  ;  [matter-- 

After  liim,  the  son  of  Dall  will  assume* 
The  sovereignty  of  Meath — the  son  of  F'ann. 

Seven  years  in  full  power, 
Shall  the  span  of  his  sovereignty  extend  ; 
The  son  of  Dall  will  be  fortunate  to  meet  friendship, 
In  the  country  of  the  strangei's  who  afford  only  an   un- 
friendly reception. 

Though  their  arms  shall  be  powerful  in  the  north  and  south, 
Maelgarbh  will  break  down  their  confederacy  ; 
Maelgarbh  shall  then  obtain  possession  of  Ireland, 
Through  the  strength  of  his  army. 

During  the  life  of  his  partner,  he  shall  hold 
Ireland  without  interruption  in  peace  ; 
This  same  Maelofarbh  the  handsome  shall  be 
The  Maelgarbh  who  will  disperse  ray  pupils. 

lie  will  take  the  opportunity  of  a  favorable   time  to  dis- 
And  will  depredate  my  Deny  ;f  [perse  my  pupils, 

*  Tills  poem  contains  a  prophecy,  at  -nay  be  seen,  of  the  iiiost  re- 
niarkablo  kings  who  should  hold  principal  sway  in  Ireland,  but  it  is 
to  be  regrettod  we  cannot  enter  on  the  history  of  f:;xrt  reign  of  tiiosf; 
princes,  in  consequence  of  the  cheapness  of  this  edition,  which  Wd 
purpose  for  the  use  of  the  millions. 

t  Mo  Dhoire!  St.  Colnmbkille.  tliough  in  the  Island  of  ][y  when 
he  wrote  this,  could  not  forget  liis  favorite  Derry  ;  and,  foreseeing 


w 


T 


ST.  COI.rMUKTr.LK. 


33 


oil,  my  Deny  !  iny  beloved  little  Di'ii v  I 

^fy  place  of  aboile,  and  the  solace  of  my  existeiKH'  I 

Woe   betide  the  man,  O  God,  thou  whose  ways  are   un- 
Who  is  destined  to  despoil  my  Deny  !  [seai'chaV lo,* 

Thoro  shall  not  bo  *    '        *"  «,  « 

^'  *****  ♦ 

After  tile  despoilment  of  my  beloved  Dorry, 

Atni  the  dispeision  of  nv  pui>ils ; 

A  Dalcassionl"  shall  not  obtain  possession  of  Ireland, 

Kver  again— a  lo..o^  period  of  time. 

The  king  who  will  cause  a  lastinor  chano-e. 

Shall  be  from  Desmond — the  prediction  is  correct — 

<roi)dness  forever  after  that  time  ; 

And  the  sovereignty  shall  fall  to  the  lot  of  Hugh  Beanan. 

This  Maeigarbh,  with  a  poweifu!  body  of  forces, 
Will  depi'edate  Tir-Eoghan,  renowned  for  arms  ; 
Every  terth  individual  in  Ireland 
Shall  die  of  plague  during  his  rei'>-n  ! 

the  expulsion  of  its  stiulents  and  find  despoilment,  could  net  avoid 
exclaimiiio:  in  the  bitterness  ot*  his  soul,  "  Oh  my  Berry  I  :ny  beloved 
J)erry,"  Ao. 

*  The  saint  denounces  heavenly  vengaaace  upon  the  despoiler  of 
his  beloved  Derry.  Here  the  MS.  was  illegible,  and  the  omission  is 
!iot  supplied  in  any  other  that  has  come  to  hand. 

t  A  Dalcascian  shall  never  from  the  date  of  the  destruction  of  the 
monastery  of  Derry  obtain  the  sovereignty  of  Ireland,  because  they 
litive  proved  bad  and  degenerate  monarohs,  since  the  time  of  Brian. 
Itsliould  be  observed  before  that  i/ae%arM  literally  means  Rouffh 
Mael,  so  called,  probably,  because  those  monarchs  thus  designated 
ttore  bad  and  cruel  men. 


■fjl 


84 


TIIK    rUOIMIKCIKS    OF 


This  same  M;icln:iirl»li  sli;ill  ha  siMzt'd  on  by  tlio  disease, 

It  shall  bo  a  terrific  sovero  I'pidcinic  ; 

Tlio  prince  shall  die  of  that  sickness 

In  the  centre  of  Limerick  of  the  fair  plains. 

A  man  devoid  of  fear  shall  come  from  tlie  nortli,  [j:rins; 
IIo  will  be  vi<,mroiis,  valiant,  and  renowned  for  feat-  of 
He  will  obtai!!  possession,  ihongh  diflicnlt  to  accomplish  it, 
Oi'  Cruachan,*  Emania,  and  Oileach. 

The  DONNf  will  come  from  beyond  Loch  Leipheann,J 
It  is  lie  who  shall  obtain  the  sovereignty  of  Ireland ; 
Until  he  sliall  fall  in  a  battle  in  Leinster, 
On  the  eminence  of  Dun  Saileach.§ 

Multitudes  of  men  in  dense  ranks  will  there  attend, 
On  the  day  that  m^  pupils  shall  be  avenged  ;    [gent  pupils, 
Fiom  the  time  of  the  dispersion  of  my  admirably  intelli- 
To  that  day,  shall  number  six  score  and  fifteen  years. 

*  C'riinchii,  written  in  EnnrliHli  Crunchan,  was  the  residence  of  the 
odebnite.l  Mcidiibh,  quoon  of  Connacht;  it  wjv8  the  residence  of  tiie 
kings  of  that  province  for  many  centuries.  The  word  is  often  u^^cd 
to  denote  tlie  wliole  province.  Enihan,  situated  near  tl)0  present 
town  of  Arinii,;,'h,  was  tlie  royal  residence  of  the  Ultonian  kings. 
Aileach  was  the  royal  residence  of  a  branch  of  the  family  of  O'Neill. 
Hugh  O'Neill,  the  great  Earl  of  Tyrone,  is  still  believed  to  remain 
enchanted  in  the  rock  of  Aileach,  whence  he,  with  his  troops,  who 
are  also  supposed  to  be  enchanted  there,  will  rush  upon  the  forces 
of  the  English,  in  their  last  struggle  against  the  Irish  people.  A 
similar  notion  prevails  respecting  Gerald  the  fairy.  Earl  of  Desmond. 

t  .Do?m.  Tlie  name  Donn  is  applied  to  a  brave  man,  while  tliat  <.f 
Maelgarbh  distinguishes  a  treacherous  and  cruel  ruler. 

t  loch  Zt'ip/ieann  or  Leipldnn.  Loch  Leane,  situated  about  ii  milo 
from  Fore,  in  the  northeast  of  the  county  of  Westmeath. 

§  Dun  SuiLeach,  properly  Dnun  Saileach,  an  old  name  for  Armagli 


ST.   COLUM-BKIIXK. 


85 


H 


'»+ 


Ho  who  will  there  avenge  the  wiongR  inflicterl  on  my  pupils, 
Siiall  be  he  of  the  glossy  ringletting  locks  from  Fatiat, 
Hugh  the  magnanimous,  the  brown-haired,  the  irresistible, 
The  smooth-going  chariot  without  blemish. 

lie  of  the  ruckly  countenance  it  is  long  until  he  !s  heard  of— 

'J'he  Defender,  who  will  break  down  his  enemy ; 

The  export  man  of  the  race  of  Conn  ; 

The  successful  hero,  and  the  subduer  of  the  Galls. 

This  will  be  Hugh  the  undaunted, 

To  whom  the  pillars  of  Tara  shall  submit; 

He  shall  be  remarkable  for  energy  and  wisdom, 

He,  the  corner-stone  (support)  of  every  province  in  Ireland. 

CATIIAIR   CONROI*   (the   city   of  Conroi)   shall   be 

ruined ; — 
It  is  a  fact  devoid  of  deception — 
What  a  misfortune  this  to  the  hosts  of  Munster  of  the 

plains, 
As  well  as  to  those  of  Limerick  and  Ceann-Coradh  !f 

Seven  and  twenty  years,  without  error. 
Shall  the  campaigns  of  Hugh|  of  the  wondrous  exploits 
<;ontinue ; 

*  Cathalr  Ghonroi.  The  city  or  residence  of  Conroi,  son  of  Daire 
(see  his  story  in  Keating).  Its  remains  consist  of  a  circle  of  larfre 
Ktones,  heaped  up  witliout  mortar;  it  is  situated  on  the  summit  of  a 
riiountuiu  in  the  barony  of  Corkaguiny,  county  of  Kerry. 

t  Cvnn,  Coradh.  Kink^rr.,  the  residence  of  Briaji  Boroime,  near 
Ilillaloe,  in  the  county  of  Clare. 

X  Aedh.  Ilngli.  Trobably  Hugh  O'Neill,  the  great  Earl  of  Ulr^tcr, 
who  waged  a  successful  war  against  Elizabeth,  the  virago  of  England. 


I 
i      i 

n 
*    I' 


>   j 


ao 


THE  PROPHECIES   OP 


\t 


According  to  arrangements  made  in  the  north  and  soutli, 
He  will  break  a  battle  every  year. 

One  and  twenty  years  with  eclat, 

Hugh  shall  reign  as  supreme  king; 

Hill  and  dale  shall  be  subject  to  his  sway, 

And  Ireland  shall  enjoy  peace  under  his  government. 

The  countenance  of  Hugh  is  familiar  to  me, 

A  face  overshadowed  with  tressing  locks  of  soft  hair  : 

My  intellect  is  confused,  0  Boithin, 

If  I  thus  sufficiently  describe  him. 

Hugh  will  lead  a  body  of  troops  from  the  north, 

He,  the  king  of  Clann  Connell  of  the  well-tempered  swords; 

They  will  march  to  Dublin  to  force  tribute, 

From  a  young  lady*  of  the  Galls  of  bright  shields. 

Against  tliem  shall  come  from  the  east. 
The  king  of  the  sea,  the  son  of  Godfrey ; 
He  will  pour  a  dreadful  havoc  upon  them 
From  that  place  to  the  lake  of  Tir-da-bhan.f 

Throughout  that  battle,  in  which  Hugh  shall  fall, 
I  assure  you,  though  the  inforniation  is  sorrowful, 
That  when  the  Galls  shall  break  forth, 
Inevitable  destruction 'shall  stalk  before  them. 

*  Olglean  Gall.  This  young  lady  of  the  Galls  is  nnquestlonahly 
Queen  Elizabeth,  since  we  liud  by  the  text  tliat  Clann  Conaill,  or  the 
great  northern  septs,  were  led  ag-ainst  her  by  Aedh,  or  Hugh. 

t  lA  !/i  Tir-da-lan,  probably  Smerwick,  in  Kerry,  is  mcalit! 


ST.    COLUMBKILLE.  37 

ft  is  a  cause  of  incessant  pain  to  me — 

And  let  all  who  hear  it  be  convinced  of  its  truth — 

That  Hugh  the  extraordinary  shall  fall,* 

Thirty  j^ears  after  the  reign  of  Hugh, 

In  the  enjoyment  of  plenty  and  freedom, 

Shall  the  country  of  hospitable  houses  remain — long  till 

it  is  heard  about — 
Until  Cliabh  Glas  shall  come  into  possession  of  it. 

« 

This  Cliabh  Glas  will  cause  severe  trials, 

As  he  will  be  the  cause  of  great  disunion ; 

Be  that  as  it  will,  the  warrior  will  not  be  pusillanimous, 

He  who  will  kill  the  hoary  man  deprived  of  one  eye. 

Seven  kings,  after  Cliabh  Glasf  the  upright, 

Shall  hold  possession  of  the  island  of  Heremon ; 

Seven  and  twenty  years,  without  error, 

Shall  pass  between  the  sovereignty  of  each  supreme  king. 

*  The  vellnm  MS.  was  illegible  hero. 

t  Cliuhh  Glas.  Gray  chest ;  a  name  evidently  given  to  the  English 
invaders  or  their  captain,  probably  on  account  of  the  color  of  the 
suits  of  mail  they  -worey^Glas,  green  or  gray — or  because  they  came 
from  the  country  of  the  Piets.  Though  it  would  seem  to  have  refer- 
ence to  the  Norsemen,  whose  sway  over  Ireland  lasted  about  tlie 
period  which  is  assigned  to  it,  189  years;  still  there  are  reasgus  for 
believing  that  the  English  invasion  is  meant,  as  in  the  langunge  <tt 
prophecy  time  is  seldom  intelligibly  defined,  and  though  it  mentions 
Clontarf  in  plain  terms,  the  liotha  Bamha,  rowing  wheels,  manifestly 
alluding  to  steam  paddles,  did  not  arrive  in  the  time  of  the  conflict 
with  the  Danes  on  Clontarf.  In  all  probability  the  text  has  allusion 
to  a  second  battle  on  Clontarf,  on  which  occasion  the  city  of  Magh 
Nealta,  Dublin,  shall  be  burned. 


I  'i"^ 


3S 


THE   rKOPHECIES   OP 


The  last  of  those  kings,  who  sliall  hold  sway, 

<  )ver  proud  Ireland  of  the  elevated  mountains, 

The  country  renowned  for  poetry  and  prosperity, 

Flnnn  Ciotach*  (blood-showering)  will  come  upon  them. 

For  a  long  time  every  king  will  be  a  Flann  Ciothach, 
Who  shall  assume  the  sovereignty  of  Eirin  • 
It  is  in  his  time  the  garment  of  death  will  descend, 
And  the  rowing  wheelsf  will  arrive. 

Ten  hundred  compartments-shall  be  in  the  fleet ; 
It  shall  contain  a  number  of  true  friends  who  Jannot  be 
repelled ; 

The  number  of  sincere  friends  shall  be  extraordinary, 
Each  compartment  shall  contain  ten  hundred  men  !  ' 

The  armament  will  spread  its  forces  over  sea  and  land, 
The  men  composing  this  strange  hostile  fleet ; 
Nor  will  it  (the  fleet)  divest  its  bosom  of  garments, 
Until  it  will  rear  up  mounds  with  mangled  bones !  ' 

They  will  inflict  on  their  enemies  without  deception, 
A  severe  flesh-hewing  course  of  warfare, 
To  such  a  degree  that  scarce  a  man  of  them  shall  escape 
Across  the  wide-extending  sea. 

H  cleSnld^^'''"'^''  "  """'"'  ^^  '''^"'^'  '  '"^''^''  ^^^^^^-^tained  tyrant 

"For  a  long  time  every  kin-  sliall  be  a  Flann  Ciothach 
Wlio  shall  assume  the  sovereignty  of  Ireland."  ' 

t  Rowincr  wheel,  evidently  the  paddle  of  a  steam  vessel~si  icc  th« 
P  cuhar  de.senpt.on  of  the  fleet  is  given  ia  the  followin,.  stan  1 

luded't ""'     ""  '''  ^"''  ^'''''  "^ ''''''''''''  ^^^^  ^^'^  ^"«  ^ 


ST.    COLUMUKILLK. 


39 


The  Galls  will  muster  on  Mao;h  Ncalta,* 
Exulting  in  the  valor  of  their  arms; 
A  keen-edged  sword,  their  weak  policy, 
The  Gael  will  cleave  the  head  of  the  Gall. 


The  fleet  of  rowing  wheelsf  will  remain  after  that, 
Two  short  vears  and  a  half: 

It  is  evident  that  a  more  respectable  race  never  existed, 
Than  that  of  the  fleet  of  Inbhir  Domhnain.J 

This  fleet  that  will  come  across  the  sea  shall  consist 
Of  ten  ships,  ten  hundred  fairy  barks  ;§ 
Ten  hundred  boats ;  ten  hundred  cock-boats ; 
And  ten  hundred  capacious  skiffs ! 

It  (the  fleet)  will  twice  circumnavigate  Eirin, 

A  truth  devoid  of  any  deception  ; 

The  principal  seaport  belonging  to  the  country  abroad,] 

Shall  look  to  the  west  of  Inbhir  Domhnain. 

They  will  gather  together,  a  bold  piece  of  policy, 
The  herds  and  women  of  the  Gaedhal ; 
Prosperous  shall  be  the  career  of  their  forces. 
Until  they  arrive  near  Tara. 

*  The  ancient  name  of  Clontarf. 

t  The  rowing  wheels,  or  steam  fleet  shall  arrive. 

X  Inbhir  Domhnain,  or  bay  of  Sligo.     This  fleet  shall  remain  it 
this  country  during  two  and  a-half  years. 

§  Fairy  barks,  another  name  given  to  this  strange  fleet  of  steam 
vessels. 

1  Tlie  principal  seaport  belonging  to  the  country  abroad,  &c.    Thia 
clearly  points  to  America,  whence  the  steam  fleet  of  Inbhir  Domh 
siiiiu  shall  sail. 


vi 


i  1 


10 


THE    PROPriECIES   OF 


Flaiin  Ciothach  will  there  overtake  tlieni, 
And  the  degenerate  will  not  be  timid :  [struir^le, 

Ho  will  pour  out  upon  them  battle  and  a  hard-contested 
At  a  place  contiguous  to  the  Rath  of  Cormac  * 

They  will  all  engage  in  a  battle  on  the  plain, 

The  Galls  and  the  Gaels, 

Close  to  the  ford  in  the  valley, 

The  battle  shall  fall  but  little  short  of  a  mutual  carna<re. 

< )  P>oithin  the  amiable  devoid  of  harshness, 

They  will  all  burn  with  a  flame  of  mutual  affection ; 

It  is  a  consolation  to  my  heart  without  any  disappoint- 

That  the  Galls  shall  be  worsted  in  the  battle.  [ment, 

They  will  pursue  them  with  their  ships, 
Over  the  mountain-billowy  ocean  ; 
So  that  no  more  shall  escape  them  with  life. 
Except  the  crew  of  one  bark^f  O  Boithin  ! 

The  issue  shall  be  that  during  the  seven-score  years,t 
The  sovereignty  of  this  people  shall  continue ; 

*  An  old  name  of  the  hill  of  Tarn,  where  tlie  English  forces  shaL 
fight  a  sanguinary  battle,  with  the  invaders  and  Irish,  as  described 

Hi   CMC'   lGXu* 

^  t  So  complete  shall  be  the  defeat  of  the  English,  that  the  remain- 
c.er  of  their  forces  will  take  flight  in  one  ship  only.    St.  Ultan   in 
reference  to  this  signal  defeat,  graphically  describes  it  thus  •-     ' 
JSone  of  them  shall  remam  after  that 

But  80  much  as  Urds  should  he  ahle  to  carry  off  in  their  claws  T' 
X  During  these  seven-score  years.    Prophetic  dates  cannot  be  other 
t'van  mystical.    See,  for  instance,  the  days  of  the  Old  Testament  aa 
II  prophetical  chronoloirv. 


I 


ST.   COLUMBKILLK. 


41 


They  shall  be  exceedingly  prosperous  during  that  period, 
Uutil  the  fires  on  St.  John's  eve  be  lighted  * 


The  festival  of  St.  John  shall  fall  on  a  Friday, 
When  the  young  men  of  many  races  shall  be  expelled  ; 
They  will  settle  eastward  in  the  Tyrian  sea,f 
They  shall  obtain  only  a  fourth  part. 

I  concede  as  a  favor  to  them  without  deception, 
And  St.  Patrick  also  did  concede  the  same  ; 

*  Until  tlie  fires  on  St.  John's  eve  be  burned.    It  must  be  con- 
fessed that  this  expression  much  favors  the  general  traditional  his- 
tory relative  to  the  discomfiture  of  the  Danish  power  in  Ireland.     It 
is  recorded  that  when  the  Irish,  after  the  death  of  Turgesius,  re- 
solved on  a  general  massacre  of  their  enslavers,  that  they,  by  a  pre- 
concerted signal,  agreed  to  light  fires  upon   every  rath  and   iiill 
throughout  Ireland,  which  incident  was  a  warning  that  all  the  peo- 
ple were  to  massacre  the  lonachts,  or  Danish  soldiers  cantoned  upo!i 
them.    This  was  done,  and  in  coirimemoration  of  the  event,  the  fires, 
of  Bealtine,  or  the  eve  of  May-day,  had  been  ever  since  that  period 
held  on  the  eve  of  St.  John's  day,  the  eve  on  which  the  event  took 
l^lace,  except  in  Dublin  and  its  vicinity,  which  was  then  the  strong- 
hold of  the  Danes.    Hence  the  May  fires  are  still  held  on  that  eve 
and  not  on  that  of  St.  John.    This  tradition  is.  indeed,  a  very  plausi- 
ble one ;  but  beyond  tradition  we  find  no  written  account  of  any 
fiuch  massacre  of  the  Norsemen  having  taken  place ;  and  more,  there 
arc  reasons  for  thinking  that  the  fires  lighted  on  the  eve  of  St.  John 
the  Baptist's  day  had  been  lighted  in  honor  of  the  sun  long  before  the 
light  of  Christianity  damned  upon  this  country.    At  all  events,  ii 
the  text  has  any  reference  to  the  expulsion  of  the  Danes  from  Ire- 
land, it  is  certain  that  tlij  stanzas  have  been  disarranged;  and,  u 
they  have,  such  disarrangement  must  have  taken  place  many  ooi- 
tiiries  ago.    In  any  event  it  is  more  than  probable  tluU;  present  bel- 
iigerent  parties  will  adopt  diflerent  interests  to  those  advocatcil  i.y 
them  at  present. 
t  Muir  Torria.i.    A  par',  Df  the  Mediterranean  sea  so  culled. 


I      rK 


i>k'i 


1  C'Z 


I 


42 


THE   PROPHECIES   OF 


That  seven  yeai-s  before  the  last  day, 

The  sea  shall  submerge  Eirin  by  one  'nundation  * 

The  angels  in  Heaven  will  celebrate 
The  vespers  of  my  festival  on  a  Thursday  ; — 
1  with  sincerity  offer  to  the  King  of  the  heavenly  lumina- 
ries 
These  predictions,  which  I  leave  to  i.osteritv. 

Though  another  may  feel  a  commotion  similar  to  mine, 
I  shall  suffer  the  penalty  of  the  dread  : 

*  Do  bhearsa  doihh,  is  ni  goklk.  This  stiinza  iillndes  to  one  of  tiie 
petitions  granted  l)y  the  Almighty  to  St.  Patrick,  after  iiaving  ex- 
pelled the  deniuns  from  Ireland,  namely  tliat  the  surrounding  ocean 
should  subinp-ge  Ireland  seven  years  before  the  day  of  doom,  so 
that  Antichrist  could  possess  no  power  over  the  people.  This  was 
considered  a  great  blessing,  and  is  mentioned  in  the  Leabhar  Breae, 
fol.  U  b.  tlius  x—^^Aciis  CO  tl  muir  tarsa  uii.  m-Uiadna  via  m-brat:^ 
And  the  sea  shall  overwhelm  it  (Ireland)  seven  years  before  the 
iudgmont.  The  same  is  recorded  as  the  final  doom  of  Ireland  in 
t!ie  IHsh  Kennlus,  edited  by  Rev.  Dr.  Todd  for  the  Irish  Ar^hao- 
logical  Society,  p.  218,  in  nearly  the  same  words  :— "  Muirtaimi  vU. 
m-hUadua  te  m-hrath^''''  translated  thus  :— "  The  sea  will  come  over 
it  seven  years  before  the  day  of  judgment,"  p.  219.  John  0"Connell, 
in  his  Poem  on  Ireland,  alludes  to  that  event  in  the  following  terms;— 
"  Lest  the  deceptions,  snares,  and  danger 

Of  Antichrist  should  fall  upon  tlie  Irish  : 

He  (the  Almighty)  promised  to  send  a  deluge  over  Ireland. 

.Seven  years  previous  to  the  burning  of  the  spheres  (globes.) 
"Ilalph  iligden  (Polychron.  lib.  a,  cap.  4)  has  recorded  the  tra 
diti')M,  tluit  St.  Patrick  ohtnined  for  the  Irish  tlie  singular  privilcirc 
that,  no  Irishman  sliall  be  alive  during  tlie  reign  of  Antichrist.  Thi>, 
serves  to  explain  the  ex|)Cct;itiou  that  the  sea  shall  cover  Ireland 
seven  years  before  the  diiy  of  judgment.  Vide  Irisk  Na.  nott, 
\\  21  a. 


ST.    COLUMBKILLE. 


43 


Thus  shall  be  without  doubt  or  folly, 
The  workl  and  the  Kiug  of  heaven. 

I  am  Columb,  a  descendant  of  the  illustrious  NialL 
0  Boithin  of  the  pure  life ; 
(Those  things)  were  clearly  manifested  to  myself, 
A  week  from  this  day  (on  which)  you  hear  them. 
HEAPwKEN  THOU. 


-♦♦♦- 


THE  THREE   CONNS. 
St.  Columbkille  cecinit. 

The  three  Conns,^*  the  descendants  of  Ruadh,f 

Of  the  race  of  Conall  of  great  power ; 

It  is  from  the  paternal  stock  of  that  man, 

The  magnates  of  that  stock  shall  derive  their  worth. 

^■-  The  Three  Conns.  Tlie  great  men  wlio  should  hold  tlie  supieme 
power  in  Irchuid  nre  predicted  in  tliis  prophetical  poem.  It  is  indeed 
dittlcult  to  give  any  correct  comment  upon  it,  bnt  it  is  evident  that 
]'>rian  Boroime  Avas  one  of  the  tliree  Conns,  and  Hugh  O'Neill,  earl 
of  Tyrone,  another.  Many  a  leader  of  the  olden  time  fancied  that 
he  was  one  of  the  Conns,  whose  career  had  been  predicted  by  the 
saint ;  and  a  celebrated  warrior  of  the  invading  Saxons  used  to  carry 
the  poem  with  him,  believing  himself  to  be  the  third.  It  is  evident, 
however,  that  two  of  those  great  men  have  passed  away,  and  their 
ttchievements  are  now  matters  of  history ;  yet  some  few  learned  iu 
native  lore  thiuk  that  one  great  warrior  shall  come  forward  in  tim 
to  c'oine,  but  it  is  to  be  feared  that  they  are  mistaken. 

t  Jiuadh,  a  red-haired  person ;  the  word  also  means  famous,  re- 
nowned. Clan  Conall,  race  or  descendants  of  Conall,  the  O'Don- 
voUs,  and  other  families  of  distinction  in  Tir-connell,  so  called  after 
Conall  Gulban.  The  idea  of  a  great  liberator  of  Ireland  arising  from 
tlie  fuinilv  of  the  O'Donnells  in  the  person  of  Ball-Dearg  0  Domh- 

6 


T" 


44 


THE   PiCOPIIEOIES   OF 


i 


The  fust  Conn  of  these  shall  be,  as  I  opine, 
A  kini^  v/hose  race  shall  be  troublous  and  short; 
His  career  shall  be  productive  of  little  advantage  to  himself, 
Though  he  will  be  prosperous  while  heir  presumptive  to 
the  crown. 

« 

In  a  derout,  though  a  matter  of  great  consequence, 
lie  himself  and  his  troops  shall  fall, 
At  a  small  isthmus  between  two  arms  of  the  sea, 
About  noontide,  by  the  clann  of  Eoghan.* 

The  second  Com.,  though  he  shall  be  tardy. 
Shall  be  a  prince  in  every  respect ; 
l:>y  his  stolid  crazed  paternal  people. 
He,  together  with  his  power,  shall  fall. 

The  third  Conn,  a  man  of  unimpeded  career, 
The  honest,  liberal  Fionn  (fair-haired,)  from  Fanat,f 
Will  promote  the  extent  of  his  dominions  by  sea  and  land, 
Up  to  Carn-Ui-Neid  in  Munster. 

During  three  years  with  successful  sway. 

Shall  he  reign  monarch  of  Ireland  from  south  to  north ; 

naill  (Eed-Spot  O'Donnell),  because  tradition  states  that  a  branch  of 
that  family  had  an  hereditary  red  spot  on  their  persons,  so  popular 
in  the  north,  may  have  originated  with  this  poem.  It  is  indeed  the 
most  hard  used  up,  and  variously  intf  rpreted  of  any  of  the  prophetic 
poems  of  our  saint. 

*  Cineal  Erjgluiin.  The  Momonians  ;  so  called  from  Eoghan  Mor, 
who  forced  Conn  of  the  Hundred  Battles  to  divide  the  kingdom  with 
him  by  a  lioe  or  boundary  nuide  from  Dublin  to  Galway  ;  the  north- 
ern half  being  Conn's  and  the  southern  Eoghan's. 

t  Fdfiat,  Fanet,  a  district  of  consid«rable  extent  in  the  north,  onc« 
the  patrimony  of  the  MucSwccnys. 


ST.    COLUMBKILLIC. 


45 


north,  once 


A.  bright  crozier  will  not  be  unveiled  against  him, 
Nor  a  peal  of  bells  unmuffled. 

He  will  form  an  alliance  with  another  people, 
Fvoiii  the  northwards  of  Cantire  ;  [banquets. 

They  will  make  a  descent  upon  the  Isle  of  Man,  of  the 
'Jo  wreak  vengeance  upon  that  people  foi'  their  ancestors. 

He  will  break  down  their  bulwarks, 
And  raze  to  the  ground  their  fortified  places  ; 
The  news  of  which  shall  be  carried  across  the  sea, 
To  the  king  of  the  Saxons  in  London. 

That  king  will  dispatch  a  great  body  of  forces 
Against  them,  without  any  deception  ; 
He  will  force  his  tributes,  with  relentless  might, 
From  the  noble  Galls  of  ^    land. 

That  expedition  from  the  east  will  rendezvous 
On  the  old  Magh  Ealta  of  Binn-Eadair  ; 
The  Galls  of  Meath  and  of  the  great  towns, 
Will  come  and  join  their  muster. 

An  alliance  will  be  there  entered  into,  [erlings) ; 

Between  the  Galls  of  this  country  and  the  Danair  (East- 
They  will  then  proclaim  war  without  any  pretext, 
Against  the  men  of  Ireland  and  Alba  (Scotland). 

That  proclamation  of  war  shall  be  unwise ;      [themselves, 
For  in  consequence  of  it  battle   shall  be   broken   upon 
And  they  shall  not  afterwards  regain  prosperity, 
Until  the  time  of  their  final  reduction. 


i 


'm 


V-.i 


111 


46 


THE   PROPIIKCIKS    OF 


Such  a  largo  assemblage  of  men 
Never  before  met  either  in  the  cast  or  west ; 
And  never  again  shall  such  a  muster  congregate, 
While  Ireland  is  a  seagirt  Island. 

Though  one  may  there  meet  his  next  akin, 
He  will,  alas  !  forget  the  ties  of  kindred ;  [getf  jlnesa 

And  they  too  shall  be  there  affected  with  the  same  for- 
Tlie  pure  Danair  and  the  Geraldines 

Neither  will  Conn  be  mindful  of  his  kindred  race, 
*     *     *     *     by  means  of  them,  without  error  ; 
The  carnage  shall  be  almost  general, 
On  Magh  Ealta  (Clontarf,)  of  the  garments. 

They  will  be  slain  by  the  clanns  of  Conn, 

And  1  y  the  people  descended  from  Oilioll  Olum  ; 

'J'he  descendants  of  Labhra  Lore  will  aid   in   their  de 

struction. 
On  Magh  Ealta  contiguous  to  their  encampment. 

Th3  city  of  Magh  Ealta  will  be  set  on  fire, 

A  most  lamentable  spectacle  to  behold  ! 

The  Galls  renowned  for  their  fleets  ohall  be  broken  down, 

And  my  Liberator  Conn  shaH  fall ! 

I  cannot  observe,  after  the  death  of  Conn 

Aught  but  a  sameness  among  his  kindred  clans, — 

Until  the  son  of  Ruadh  (red-haired,)  from  the  glen  appear, 

The  span  of  the  kingly  reign  shall  be  but  brief. 

After  the  blameless  son  of  Ruadh, 


ST.   COLUMBKILLE. 


47 


Though  many  fraudulent  acts  shall  bo  committed  during 

his  reign, 
He  will  bo  upon  the  whole  a  friend  to  tho  Church. 

'i'he  (jelebrated  race  of  Heber  will  arrive  there, 

And  the  clann  of  IR  of  the  gold-decked  accoutrements 

Grecians*  will  afterwards  arrive, 

And  the  people  descended  from  Ith,  the  son  of  Breogan. 

It  is  thus  the  tide  of  affairs  shall  principally  flow, 
O'Boithin  of  the  most  amiable  countenance, — 
They  were  the  angels  of  the  living  God,  [(Conns). 

Who  made  manifest  to  mc   the  history  of  the  three 

THE  THREE  CONNS. 


r-^ll 


^gg^h^l 


-♦♦♦- 


THE   FALL   OF   TARA. 

COLUMBKILLE    CECINIT. 

Taraj  of  Magh  Bregia  which  you  now  see  so  prosperous, 
S^>all  be  covered  with  grass— all  its  buildings  as  well  as 

its  elevated  site. 
It  shall  not  be  long  ere  it  becomes  a  desert,       [affluence  ! 
Though    it  is  to  day   in   the   enjoyment   of  prosperous 

*  Who  those  Grecians  may  be,  it  is  difficalt  to  conjecture ;  it  may 
be  one  of  the  many  results  wliich  spring  froin  war.  By  the  people 
descended  from  1th,  son  of  Breogain,  tl'o  Spaniards  and  Portuguese 

were  evidently  meant. 

t  Fall  of  Tara.  Tliis  poem  was  composed  by  our  samt  on  the  oc- 
casion of  his  pleading  before  Aodli,  monarch  of  Ireland,  to  free 
Aidan.  kinff  of  the  Albanian  Scots,  from  the  tribute  long  imposed 


I 


• 


i 


« 


nr 


r 

fi 


iS 


THE   PROPHECIES   OP 


I  assure  you  in  serious  verity, 

O  Tara,  the  flourishing  seat  of  monurcliy, 

That  there  is  not  to-night  on  the  wide  expanse  of  Baiiba 

A  place,  ah'is  !  fated  to  enjoy  such  brief  stability. 

The  repulsive  denials  there  met  fi-oni  day  to  day, 
Strongly  excite  my  charitable  complement ; 
Prosperity  will  forsake  its  hills,  [then  prevails. 

In    consequence   of  the  rudeness   and   inhospituiity  that 

To  a  place  where  neither  people  nor  dwellings  arc  found 
None  will  resort  to  solicit  a  favor ;  "^         [means. 

Sorrow  must  await  those  who  make   bad   use   of  their 
And  share  not  with  the  necessitous. 

Woe  betide  those  who  practise  rcpulsiveness  and  refusals, 
Who  repel  the  peasant  and  the  prince  alike ; 
It  is  the  penalty  which  the  acts  of  princes  earned, 
That  Tara  shall  be  devoid  of  a  house  forever. 

Oileach  and  Tara,  now  seats  of  power, 
Rath-cruachain,  and  Emania  the  lofty  ; 

upon  his  people,  when  the  Irish  monarch  refused  to  remit  that  gall- 
ing tribute  imposed  upon  the  Irish  who  colonized  a  portion  of  Alba 
or  Scotland.  On  the  stern  refusal  of  the  monarch,  Aedh,  to  grant  an 
indemnity  of  the  tribute,  the  saint  arose,  and  before  the  kings  and 
chiefs  assembled,  foretold  the  downfall  of  Tara,  then  the  most  ma- 
mficent  seat  of  royalty  in  Europe,  confuted  the  haughty  monarch  to 
his  ace  by  showing  the  vanity  of  the  pomp  of  the  world,  especially 
in  the  downfall  of  Tara,  and  the  total  instability  of  human  affairs. 
H.s  address  had  the  desired  effect.  Some  centuries  after  this  Tara 
was  cursed  by  St.  liaadan,  and  was  therefore  abandoned,  so  that,  ac- 
cording to  the  prophecy  of  our  saint,  Tara  was  no  more  the  seat  of 
a  king  or  chief. 


BT.    COLUMBKILLE. 


49 


Shall  bo  deserted,  though  now  so  replenished,  [raths. 

To  such  an  extent  that  a  roof-tree  shall  not  remain  on  the 

The  chief  cause  of  this  downfall  shall  be — 
As  the  King  of  kings  hath  assured  to  me, — 
Because  the  chiefs  of  Ireland  of  the  slender  towers, 
Do  not  believe  in  CHRIST  without  hesitation. 

It  shall  not  so  happen  to  the  saints, 
Who  are  in  compact  with  Him  of  the  benign  countenance ; 
The  joys  prepared  for  them  will  increase  each  day, 
In  Heaven,  without  any  deception. 

1  assure  you,  without  fear  of  contradiction — 
For  I  have  the  information  from  my  Heavenly  King- 
That  no  one  shall  find  either  a  king  or  prince. 
Or  obtain  food  or  drink  within  the  walls  of  Tara. 

TARA  OF  MAGH  BREGIA. 


"»♦»■ 


EIRE  THIS   NIGHT. 

COLUMBKILLE     CECINIT. 

How  prosperous  Eire*  is  this  night ! 
Her  immense  substance  is  free  from  taxation,     . 
Her  princes  are  hospitable,  her  palaces  are  full, 
Her  people  numerous,  and  her  crops  productive. 

*  This  stanza  gives  a  true  description  of  the  prosperous  state  of 
Ireland,  while  governed  by  her  own  kings,  and  in  the  enjoyment  or 
her  proper  iberties. 


;«i 


J: 

! 


50 


THE   PROPHECIES   OF 


Tliougli  this  Eire  is  so  prosperous  this  night, 

A  time  will  come  when  she  will  be  reduced  to  destitution; 

A  powerful  force  of  strangers  will  invade  her, 

From  Lochlan  to  the  sea-faring  Galls.* 

They  will  entertain  kind  feelings  towards  no  person,f 
Their  hordes  will  take  possession  of  every  house  ; 
Prolific  shall  be  the  race  that  will  come  across  the  seas, 
The  Danair  (Danes)  will  be  resolute  fierce  warriors. 

Long  shall  their  sway  continue  over  the  island  of  Conn 
They  shall  be  the  less  benignant  of  any  race  of  people ; 
They  will  prevail  both  by  sea  and  land, 
And  will  destroy  the  navy  of  our  enterprising  kings.J 

The  time  shall  come,  it  is  no  tribulation  to  me, 

When  their  doom  shall  be  sealed,  and  their  further  careei 

impeded ; 
(For,)  on  Clontarf  §  of  the  blood-stained  garments, 
Battle  shall  be  broken  upon  them  in  one  day. 

*  Gall,  a  name  for  all  foreigners ;  Gael,  for  Irishman. 

t  A  true  picture  of  the  barbarous  pagan  Norsemen  is  given  in  tliis 
i^tanza. 

*  It  little  signifies  what  has  been  said  and  written  to  the  contrary, 
our  monarchs  maintained  a  splendid  fleet.  The  Irish  fleet  was  found 
in  Gaul,  Britain,  Lochlan,  &c.,  conveying  troops,  and  the  Irish  were 
the  first  discoverers  of  Iceland,  where  they  resorted  to  fish  for  ood, 
snd  it  was  by  the  Irish  America  was  first  discovered  and,  most  prob- 
iibly,  partly  peopled,  vid.  Crymogea,  Johnston,  Norse  Antiq.,  and  MS. 
tdition  of  the  Battle  of  Clontarf,  in  the  lihwy  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy. 

%  le  Cluan-da-tharbh,  dr.  The  Norsemen  were  worsted  and  their 
power  broken  down  by  Brian  Boroimhe  in  tl)e  Battle  of  Clontarf, 
fought  on  Good-Friday,  A.  D.  1014,  vid.  MS.  .Battle  of  Clontarf ^  arui 
IrUh  hutory,  '^c. 


ST.   COLUMBKILLE. 


r>i 


Another  race  of  invaders*  will  come  liitlier  across  the  seas, 
Their  number  shall  be  fcw,  though  their  power  prove  great ; 
Six  hundred  years  and  ninetyf  more  in  full, 
Shall  they  impose  their  tributes  upon  us. 

They  will  take  possession  of  a  portion  of  Ireland, 
Their  progress  shall  be  but  slow  in  the  beginning ; 
But  they  will  forcibly  extend  their  supremacy. 
With  a  lubriciousness  similar  to  that  of  a  mist  stealing  upon 
a  headland. 

*  Ticcfa  drem,  &c.  This  ajludes  to  the  English  invasion.  The 
number  of  invaders  who  first  hinded  in  Ireland  were  few  indeed, 
but  they  imperceptibly  spread  themselves  over  the  country  hke  a 
mist  stealing  in  from  the  sea  upon  a  mountain. 

t  Se  ced  bliadain,  dc.  According  to  the  text  the  Saxons  will  hold 
Bway  in  Ireland  during  690  years.  According  to  the  best  authorities 
the  invaders  landed  at  Bag-an-bun,  a  creek  near  Bannow,  Co.  Wex- 
ford A  D.  1170.  So  if  690  years  be  added  to  that  date  we  shall  have 
the  year  1860,  as  that  in  which  their  power  shall  terminate  in  this 
country.  It  is,  however,  more  probable,  that  the  date  should  be  ex- 
tended to  th-.it  in  which  Henry  II.  landed,  namely,  1172.  I  am  we  1 
aware  that  up  to  that  period  their  power  wds  very  limited,  though 
there  is  a  popular  phrase,  or  rhyme,  which  concedes  to  the  invaders 
the  sovereignty  of  Ireland  on  their  first  landing  :  ^ 

"  At  the  creek  of  Bag-an-bun, 
Ireland  was  lost  and  won." 
If  to  1172  be  added  690,  we  shall  then  have  1862,  which  is,  proba- 
l.lv,  the  more  correct  date.    Prophecy-men  assert,  perhaps  on  the  au- 
thority  of  some  old  prophetic  piece  now  lost,  that  the  term  ot  the 
Saxon  dispersion  shall  be  prolonged  for  three  years  afte'- the  date 
allowed  for  the  termination  of  their  misrule,  in  consequence  of    J.eart 
Sacsanach,  micaingean  Mrionnaich,  ague  feall  AWanach    {t^^^  cun- 
ning plotting  of  Englishmen,  the  internal  dissensions  of  Irishmen, 
and  the  treachery  of  Scotchmen).    At  all  events  all  our  predictions 
agree  that  English  power  in  Ireland  shall  have  a  termination  and 
that  the  Irish  shall  once  more  rule  over  their  own  dearly-beloved 
fjreen  Island. 


52 


THE    PKOPIIKCIKS   OF 


!iii 


if 


I    .1 


They  will  persecute  the  Gaels  with  galling  feiccity  ; 
Tlieir  petitions  for  restitution  will  be  disregarded, 
This  grievance  shall  stir  up  the  descendants  of  Conn, 
With  the  descendants  of  Eodian  of  the  diadems  of  o-old. 

The  native  IHsh  shall  be  reduced  to  the  condition  of  so- 
journers during  their  sway. 

They  shall  be  deprived  of  their  rights,  instead  of  enjoy 
ing  their  dignities. 

Whole  tribes  will  be  annihilated  ;  their  laws  shall  be  unjust, 

Plotting  shall  constitute  the  maip  features  of  their  career. 

They  will  erect  lime-built  towers*  upon  every  headland, 
Their  kings  will  be  treacherous,  their  nobles  powerful ; 
They  will  noose  halters  around  the  necks  of  every  person  ; 
Such  shall  be  the  results  of  the  injustice  and  litigiousness 
of  the  stranofer. 

An  uninterrupted  course  of  warfare  will  mark  their  career. 
While  their  keen-edged  swords  shall  be  ever  reeking  with 

blood ; 
Fire,  robbery,  and  every  species  of  infliction  will  prevail. 
They  will  persecute  the  Gael  into  exile. 

Hard-fought  bloody  wars  will  be  waged. 
But  the  Gael  shall  be  the  most  frequently  discomfited  ; 
To  their  degenerate  spirit  and  internal  dissensions. 
Their  downfall  and  subsequent  sufferings  may  be  attributed. 


*  This  has  allusion  to  the  castles  and  other  fortifications  built  by 
the  English  settlers  for  the  purposes  of  securing  their  conquests,  o't 


robberies  and  of  &wlnn'  th 


■^  t*»-*tl T \/v?  liivO  SOTTiv  BOrt  Oi   snulXiisSlCua 


ST.   COLUMBKILLE. 


65 


An  uncultivated  lang^iiage*  will  be  found  in  every  person's 

mouth, 
Proud  abbots  (clergy)\vill  rule  over  every  sanctified  churcli ; 
In  both  north  and  south  iron  wheels  shall  support 
Fiery  chariots,f  which  shall  resemble  druidical  deception. 

In  the  last  ninety  years  of  (Irish)  bondage,^ 
•A  man  from  Munster  will  start  into  notoriety  ; 
Though  he  shall  be  neither  a  prince,  a  soldier,  nor  a  lord, 
Every  person  will  send  him  tribute  to  Dublin. 

During  his  career  power  will  be  measured  with  power, 
He  will  relieve  the  families  belonging  to  high  septs  ; 
He  will  afterwards  cross  the  boundless  sea. 
And  he  shall  fall  in  a  foreign  country  ! 

After  his  decease  deception  will  prevail  over  the  land  of  Fail, 
To  such  an  extent  that  no  friendly  associations  will  exist ; 
No  man  can  calculate  upon  the  support  of  a  friend, 
Any  more  than  he  can  rely  upon  that  of  his  sworn  enemy. 

*  The  English  tongue  has  been  condemned  by  all  Irish  writers, 
nnd  considered  a  mere  jargon,  which  it  really  is  when  compared  to 
their  own  copious,  sweet,  polished  language.  Ah  uaiMreach,  proud 
abbots— the  protestant  clergy  who  took  forcible  possession  of  the  ab- 
beys and  churches  are  here  meant. 

+  Jiodha  iarrm.  Our  railway  carriages,  "  fiery  chariots  that  would 
resemble  tlie  deception  caused  by  the  operation  of  magic."  It  was 
always  traditionally  recorded  that  chariots  without  the  aid  of  horses 
would  traverse  the  country. 

X  This  and  the  following  two  stanzas  plainly  describe  the  life, 
career,  and  death  of  Ireland's  Liberator,  Daniel  O'Connell ;  also  tlio 
state  of  parties  after  his  demise— extraordinary— I  did  not  well  under- 
stand this  when  I  made  this  trant*lat=on  more  than  eight  years  ag^. 


J 
iii 


54: 


THE  PROPHECIES   OF 


A  pure  Cleric  without  reproach  will  appear,*         [drinlvs; 
Who  will  prohibit  the  use  of  darkening  (intoxicating) 
Like  the  full  moon  anaidst  the  lesser  luminaries, 
Shall  the  dignity  of  this  foster-father  appear. 

Storms,  plagues,  and  gnawing  famine  shall  prevail, 
The  seasons  will  not  observe  their  regular  course ; 
IMague  will  consume  the  powerful  as  well  as  the  weak, 
AVith  painful  cramps  of  one  half-day's  duration  !f 

Dearth  will  become  oppressive  throughout  the  land, 
Though  there  shall  be  abundance  of  food  on  one  part  (side); 
Thousands  shall  die  of  starvation — houses  shall  be  full,| 
Afterwards  the  land  shall  become  a  barren  waste. 

Persons  of  substance  sb'^,11  be  reduced  to  a  state  of  insol- 
vency, 
No  bankers  will  supply  them  with  the  necessary  funds ; 
A  fraudulent  system  of  trade  will  enhance  their  ruin, 
And  they  shall  afterwards  be  left  to  weep  in  sorrow. 

Tii^^pure  fair  Gael  will  fly  away§  [world  ; 

Into  exile  into  both  the  eastern  and  western  regions  of  the 
The  scantiness  of  land,  and  oppressive  debts,  without  a 

falsehood. 
Shall  bring  decay  upon  them,  day  by  day. 

*  This  is  Father  Theobald  Mathew,  without  any  doubt. 

t  The  cholera  morbus. 

X  The  houses  shall  be  filled.  This  means,  either  that  stores  shall 
he  filled  with  provisions,  though  the  people  shall  perish  of  famine 
by  thousands,  or  that  poor-hoasos  shall  be  filled  with  agricultural 
laborers  and  their  families. 

§  The  wholesale  emigration  of  the  oppressed  Irish.  No  further 
uOUimeiit  is  uccdcd. 


St.   COLUMBKLLLE. 


5b 


The  dignities  assumed  by  nobles  and  great  men  shall  be 
subverted, 

The  nobility  shall  sink  into  hnmble  life  before  the  great 
war  ;* 

That  war  that  will  be  proclaimed  against  them  from  be- 
yond the  seas, 

By  means  of  which  the  franticly-proud  race  shall  be  sul>^ 
dued. 


Legislators  will  enact  fatal  and  unjust  statutes. 

To  deprive  the  rightful  clergy  of  church  dignities  ;- 

(For)  they  will  look  upon  their  fame  as  an  impediment  im 

their  way, 
Misfortunes  and  mortifications  shall  aftenvards   become* 

their  portion. 

The  laws  will  be  enacted  in  a  spirit  of  gross  injustice;! 
The  clergy  of  the  holy  church  will  be  persecuted 

*  Morgliad.  AJl  our  saints  foretold  that  this  great  war,  wliich. 
should  rain  Enghmd,  shall  be  proclaimed  by  some  powerful  foreign  < 
potentate ;  some  people  say  that  it  shall  be  a  religious  war.  Time  •. 
shall  tell  more  than  we  can  at  present. 

t  The  injustice  of  England  in  all  her  relations,  more  especially 
those  respecting  Ireland,  shall  arouse  foreign  nations,  both  in  the- 
eastern  and  western  parts  of  the  globe,  to  put  a  final  end  to  her  in- 
termeddling, domineering  career  (vide  note^  page  39).   Hero  is  a  frag- 
ment of  a  song  written  on  our  prophecies  by  the  celebrated  Irish 
l>ard,  Peter  O'Dornin,  on  the  occasion  of  Arthur  BroAvnlow,  Esq.,  of: 
Lurgan,  ancestor  of  the  present  Lord  Lurgan,  having  contested  tlie 
representation  of  the  county  of  Armagh  with  the  Achesons  of  Mar- 
ketliill,  and  otiicr  powerful  opponents.    The  I   rd  states  the  final, 
downfall  of  England,  and  more  particular!}  the  puerility  of  support- 
ing any  one  candidate  in  preference  to  another.    It  has  been  stated: 
by  persons  deservlnsr  credit,  that  the  Kcv.  William  Neilson,  D.  D., 


M 


THE   PEOPHEClia   OP 


I, 


Bv  the  false-hearted  Galls,  both  here  and  abroad, 
Wliich  event  will  cause  great  excitement  in  every  place. 

The  leading  men  and  clergy  shall  be  aroused  in  conse- 
quence of  those  enactments, 
They  will  make  a  noisy  remonstrance ; 
Nothing  they  will  do  shall  avail  themselves, 
Except  to  the  detriment  of  the  enemy. 

The  enemies  of  the  Galls  shall  be  aroused  into  activity, 
Thev  who  reside  in  the  eastern  and  western  parts  of  the 

ft/ 

world ; 

n  Catliolic  clergyman,  offered  forty  guineas  for  a  perfect  copy  of  this 
ballad,  but  it  could  not  be  had.  The  following  fragment  is  iJl  W8 
have  been  able  to  collect,  and  it  may  be  worth  preserving. 

THE  INDEPENDENT  MAN. 

"  When  powers  agree,  'tis  then  you  shall  see, 
.     That  with  sudden  career  on  Britain  they'll  come ; 
They'll  pell-mell  all  three,  not  sparing  degree. 

The  gray  and  the  green  with  bullet  and  drum. 
While  on  their  career,  I'll  laugh  and  I'll  sneer, 

Enjoying  good  cheer,  I'll  sip  of  my  rum ; 
Yet  devoid  of  all  fear,  I'll  sit  like  a  peer. 
With  my  bottle  of  beer  ■u/i-undcr  my  thumb." 

ON  ELECTIONEERING,  llC  SayS  : 

"  In  Heaven's  great  name !  how  can  they  blame 

The  poor  man,  or  shame  him,  in  the  long  run  ? 
Ambition's  their  game,  what  else  do  they  mean, 

But  purchase  high  fame,  great  power,  and  fun  ? 
They  may  swear  a  big  oath,  that  never  they'll  loath 

The  poor  dupe  that  votes  for  them :  'tis  their  plan, 
But  I'll  keep  my  own  vote  ;  I'll  give  it  to  none, 

Then  what  need  I  care  for  >x  parliament-man  ?" 


ST.   COLUMBKILLE. 


57 


So  tlmt  tliey  will  engage  in  a  battle  ou  the  circumscribes 

sen, 
Jti  consequence  of  wliich  they  (Galls)  shall  be  scattered 

(defeated). 

A  Heet  belonging  to  a  foreign  country  will  come  hither, 
Manned  by  the  descendants  of  Golimh*  of  the  gold  em 

bi-oidered  garments; 
They  shall  lay  prostrate  the  Galls  of  the  ships, 
And  libei-ate  the  people  who  have  been  held  in  bondage. 

This  fleet  that  will  arrive  here  from  the  east, 

Cannot  be  impeded  on  the  mighty  ocean ; 

Through  the  impetuosityf  of  its  noisy  breathing, 

Its  strange  appearance  shall  be  marked  by  flaming  mouths. 

They  will  engage  in  a  serious  conflict, 
Who  compose  the  fleet  of  Balina;i 

*  Golinili.  Golamh  was  the  great  ancestor  of  the  Milesian  race  . 
tlic  Spaniards,  Portuguese,  &c.,  were  considered  as  the  kinsmen  of 
tlie  old  Irish. 

t  La  aidkheal  nmrt^  &c.  Through  the  impetuosity  of  its  noisy 
breathing.  Probably  the  rumbling  noise  of  esca[)ing  steam.  Flamirxj 
mouths^  the  chimneys  or  engineering  departments  of  steamships. 

X  LucM  in  luingis  Bel-aTV-ath.  Beal-an-atka  may  be  the  name  of 
any  port  where  a  river  empties  itself  into  the  sea;  but  it  also  is  the 
name  of  Ballina,  in  the  Co.  Mayo.  There  can  bo  no  reason  for  as- 
sociating this  expedition  with  that  of  the  French  fleet  in  1798,  inas- 
much as  that  fleet  was  not  composed  of  steam-vessels.  In  another 
place  St.  Columbkille  says,  "  This  battle  shall  be  fought  in  the  morn- 
ing by  the  men  of  Connacht."  That  battle  is  not  yet  fought — D'eln 
cat  coagair  maru  gorh.  After  the  hard- contested  sea-fight.  All  tiie 
authorities  wo  have  been  able  to  consult,  agree  that  tlie  Englisli 
Khali  sustain  a  great  defeat  by  sea,  not  in  the  English  Channel  or 
Irisli  sea,  but  in  some  narrow  eastern  sea,  perhaps  in  the  Meditcrm- 


m 


fff 


mi     i 


58 


TIIK   rR0PHEClK8    OF 


It  shall  be  a  wonder  that  it  will  not  be  a  mntual  slaujjhter, 
The  conflict  of  those  who  will  come  hither  to  sever  the  in- 
tricate knot. 

The  Galls  will  muster  their  ruthless  forces  with  resolution. 
After  their  bloody,  hard-contested  sea-fight ; 
On  Magh-dair*  of  the  Druid, 

(lean.  The  English  fleet  has  suffered  considerably  in  the  eastern 
ivatera  already.  It  is  clear  that,  though  the  fame  of  the  English 
fliaritime  power  was  great,  and  deserved  unbounded  praise  for  its 
efficiency,  its  day  has  past  over,  and  its  old  hulks  cannot  now  com- 
pete with  the  ships  of  America,  or  even  of  France,  as  they  are  newly 
ouilt,  on  the  most  approved  systems  invented  in  ship-buildinir. 

*  Ar  mag  darv,  drai,  dtc.  It  appears  from  the  text  that  Kihlaro 
had  been  called  Bu'-a,  or  Dar-u,  from  a  Druid  of  that  name,  and  not 
from  daif'f  an  oak,  as  is  generally  supposed.  There  has  been  a  very 
prevalent  tradition  that  the  Curragh  of  Kildare  shall  be  the  scene  of 
oloodshed,  in  consequence  of  the  Irish  army  refusing  to  go  abroad. 
"Whether  the  prediction  about  the  present  encampment  there,  which 
we  heard  foretold  a  thousand  times  over,  has  been  founded  on  this 
text,  we  cannot  tell,  but  if  we  give  credit  to  many  other  texts,  we 
CHi:  see  that  the  English,  as  a  last  resource,  shall  muster  their  forces 
some  pl'.'ce  near  the  Curragh,  and  will  come  to  the  detcrmijiaiiun  Xo 
conquer  or  die.  This  determination  is  laconically  exprosse«l  in  tra- 
dition thus:  "  It  shall  be  much  easier  to  hew  an  oak  with  a  pen- 
knife, than  displace  the  son  of  a  Gall  from  his  saddle,"  so  resolute 
will  they  be.  But  when  the  enemy  shall  appear,  the  tradition  adds : 
"They  shall  beccme  as  weak  ao  a  Avoman  in  travail  before  their 
enerr.y."  It  may  as  well  be  said  here,  that  this  tradition  respecting 
the  resolute  bearing  of  the  English  troops,  and  their  subsequent  dis- 
may, is  much  localized ;  for  instance,  it  is  said  that  their  courajro 
shall  be  wound  up  to  the  highest  pitch  in  the  streets  of  Ardoe ;  bt:t 
that  courage  shall  die  away  when  they  proceed  some  short  distance, 
and  discern  the  great  strength  of  the  enemy,  augmented  by  the  en- 
chanted troops  of  Gearoitt  Jarla  (Garrett  or  Gerald),  who  is  said  to 
iiave  been  enchanted  in  a  small  hill  near  Ardee,  called  Mallagk  EUm. 
riiis  Earl  is  now  generally  supposed  to  have  been  of  the  Kildaro 


!i 


ST.   COLUMBKILLE. 


59 


It  is  then  the  battle  of  Mullagli-mast*  will  be  fought. 

After  the  Galls  shall  be  defeated  in  this  battle, 

They  shall  be  harassed  from  every  quarter ; 

Like  a  fawn  surrounded  by  a  pack  of  voracious  hounds, 

Shall  be  the  position  of  the  Saxons  amidst  their  enemies.f 


branch.  This  is  an  errcr;  he  was  Garrett,  rreiit  Earl  of  Desmond, 
commonly  called  the  fairy  earl,  because  he  was  supposed  to  hav«? 
been  skilled  in  magic.  lie  governed  the  Earldom  of  Desmond  3<! 
years,  and  died  a.  d.  1339,  vide  Dom.  Rosari,  O'Daly's  work,  trans- 
lated by  Eev.  C.  P.  Meehan,  p.  85.  In  a  fairy  poem  in  my  posses- 
sion, the  raid  of  Gerald  Jarla  and  his  troops  is  thus  rccorde<l : 

"  When  the  bloody  mills  operate, 
Without  a  drop  of  aught  but  blood. 
Earl  Gerald,  mounted  on  his  bald  black  steed  will  arisfs, 
And  take  revenge  for  the  blood  that  was  spilled, 
On  the  eve  of  Sunday,  at  Aughrim— 
It  is  then  the  war  will  come  to  Ireland." 

This,  however,  deserves  but  little  credit,  as  it  is  a  piece  ot  pv- 
thonic  faticination,  and  not  genuine  prophecy,  though  there  arc  hun- 
dreds, in  the  memory  of  persons  still  living,  who  used  to  assert  that 
they  had  many  audiences  with  the  fairy  earl. 

*  Maistean.  An  ancient  moat,  constructed  on  a  hill  about  five 
miles  east  of  Athy,  county  of  Kildare.  (  Vide  Seward.)  It  is  now 
called  Mullaghmast,  noted  for  a  treacherous  massacre  of  Irish  cliiefs 
bv  the  hands  of  the  English,  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth.  It  appears 
that  another  great  battle  will  be  fought  near  this  place ;  perhaps  the 
battle  of  the  plains  of  Kildare  is  meant.    Allusion  is  elsewhere  made 

to  this  battle. 

+  This  stanza  contains  a  fearful  description  of  the  state  to  which 
the  English  will  be  reduced  they  will,  no  doubt,  be  paid  home  a 
long  reckoning  by  their  oppressed  colonies,  &c.,  in  the  time  of  their 
weakness.  Tlie  great  rain  immediately  following  this  stanza  laconi- 
cally depicts  the  condition  of  an  arch-tyrant  in  the  last  stage  of  hia 
existence.  h« 


\w-l 


Qsj 


TlIK  PliOrilKCY   OF 


The  Saxons  afterwards  shall  dwiudlc  down  into  a  disreputa- 
ble people,  [perity : 
And  every  obstacle  shall  be  opposed  to  their  future  pnjs- 
l.>Gcani?e  they  did  not  observe  justicy  and  rectitude, 
Tiiey  shall  be  forever  after  deprived  oi'  power  ! 

Three  warnings*  will  be  given  them  before  their  final  fall, 

The  burning  of  the  Tower  of  the  great  kings, 

The  conflagration  of  the  Dock-yard  of  the  Oalls, 

And  the  burning  of  the  Treasury  where  gold  is  deposited. 

This  new  Eire  shall  be  Eire  the  prosperous, 
(jrreat  shall  be  her  renown  and  her  power ; 
There  shall  not  be  on  the  surface  of  the  wide  earth, 
A  country  found  to  equal  this  fine  country  I 

EIRE  THIS  NIGUT,  &c. 


^  * » 


MAELTAMHLACIIT  CECINIT. 

Relate,  O  Maeltamhlacht,f 
The  history  of  the  latter  ages  of  the  world  ; 
The  fate  of  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
Since  it  is  vou  that  see,  and  have  seen  it, 

*  y/tree  waj'nlngs  will  be  conceded  to  the  English  to  prepare  them 
for  tlieir  final  downfall,  namely,  the  burning  of  the  Tower  of  Kings, 
or  Tower  of  London,  the  burning  of  the  Dock-yard,  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Treasury,  or  Bank ;  tl^e  two  former  have  already  been 
{liven,  but  the  third  is  yet  to  come. 

t  It  is  impossible  for  ua  to  enter  upon  any  thing  like  a  full  account 
of  our  sainted  prophets  in  the  present  edition,  for  the  reasons  Dciore 


ST.    MAI'XTAMIILACIJT. 


01 


Relate,  if  it  be  not  an  improper  requost, 
Since  you  arc  skilled  in  solving  all  queries, 
How  the  times  shall  be. 
That  are  to  come  upon  us,  0  Cleric. 

I  will  not  aspire  to  prophecy, 
Except  thus  far,  O  Maeldithrith,* 
That  in  the  latter  a^es, 
Destitution  will  fall  upon  many  people. 

Bearla]  will  be  found  in  the  midst  of  every  family, 
And  tillage  in  the  bosom  of  every  wood ; 

iissigned.  Maeltnmlaclit  was  one  of  those  whoso  prophetic  writings 
were  held  in  hi^h  esteem  by  the  old  Irish.  This  may  be  learned 
I'rom  the  following  quotation  respecting;  the  prophecy  of  this  saint, 
extracted  from  Philip  O'Sullivan  Beare's  Catholic  History.  Speak- 
ing of  the  sufferings  of  the  Iri.-ih,  the  historian  says :  "  Ita  peccata 
nostra  meruerunt,  Ita  fuit  Numini  visum  :  ita  Dens  sivit  non  propter 
Anglorum  meritum,  sed  ob  Ibernorum  culpam,  iit  olim  in  vaticlnw 
JJivus  Meltamlachtus  jyrcedixiV^  Tom.  II.  Cap.  VI.  p.  65.  That  is, 
our  sins  deserved  this  scourge  ;  and  God  willed  it,  and  permitted  it 
to  happen,  not  on  account  of  any  merit  possessed  by  the  English 
people,  but  on  account  of  the  crimes  of  the  Irish,  as  the  sainted  Mai- 
tamlacht  long  since  foretold.  Hence  wo  see  that  saint  Maeltamlacht 
was  a  prophet  held  in  high  estimation  by  the  old  Irish,  though  we 
seldom  meet  his  name  in  historical  documents. 

*  MaeldUhnth.  Who  this  personage  had  been,  we  are  unable  at 
present  to  tell ;  it  is  clear,  however,  that  he  was  a  man  eminent  lor 
panctitv,  since  St.  Maeltamlacht  condescends  to  enter  into  a  colloquy 
with  him  on  this  subject.  It  w  uld  require  much  time  an  I  labor  to 
give  a  detailed  history  of  our  saints  in  the  present  state  of  ancient 
documents  and  authorities. 

t  Berla,  is  the  name  for  any  language,  but  is  for  some  centurie» 
applied  to  the  English  tongue  by  the  Irish,  while  they  designate  tlie 
vernacular  by  tiie  term  Gaedhleuj.  No  Irish  peasant  would  now  af>- 
ply  the  term  hearla  to  his  native  tongue.    It  is  surely  the  clearest 


62 


THR  PROPHECY  OF 


(ialls  will  become  Gnels, 
Atui  (Jaels  will  become  Galls. 

W'itli  arrogance  and  oppression 

The  descendants  of  Milesius  will  be  persecuted; 

rntil  tliey  perform  penance 

Kor'tlie  crimes  that  caused  their  dispersion. 

The  1  )anair  (strangers)  shall  be  permitted  to  rule,* 
For  some  time  over  the  Island  of  Feidhlim  (Ireland) ; 

nuirk  of  the  utter  degrndation  ot'jvny  nation  the  abandonment  of  tlij 
native  langungc,  no  matter  liow  barbarous  soever,  for  tliat  of  tliu 
conqueror.  Sucli,  sorrowful  to  relate,  is  tlie  present  condition  of  our 
people  with  respect  to  tlieir  native  language  :  it  was  of  this  clcgen- 
eracy  the  prophet  complains.  "  And  tillage  in  the  bosmn  of  evtnj 
frood.''^  The  old  Irish  were  by  no  means  the  barbarous  wretches  t'le 
English  were  wont  to  represent  tiiem  :  they  could  enjoy  the  beauties 
of  nature  as  fully  as  any  other  refined  people ;  they  knew  how  to  con- 
struct artificial  islands  on  their  lakes  as  spots  for  recreation,  amusc- 
ment,  and  health  ;  and  their  woods  and  groves  were  considered  by 
them  as  ornaments  to  the  face  of  the  country.  They  liad  no  neces- 
sity for  hewing  them  down  to  make  room  for  cultivation,  for,  living 
on  the  resources  of  the  country,  and  entirely  within  themselves,  thoy 
were  not  forced  to  supply  the  greedy  maws  of  strangers,  like  their 
enslaved  descendants. 

*  Leiofer  do  JJanaraihk,  ^e.  The  strangers  tolU  he  allowed,  dti\ 
Ireland  unquestionably  was  an  island  of  saints  since  she  received  the 
light  of  the  gospel  until  the  arrival  of  the  barbaious  pagan  Danes, 
who  prostrated  religion,  and  trampled  all  sacred  things  under  foot. 
Tlie  people  unfortunately  imbibed  bad  habits  after  the  example  set 
belbrc  them,  and  continued  in  this  deplorable  state  for  several  cen- 
turies. St.  Bernard,  in  his  Life  of  St.  Malaehy,  Archbishop  of  Ar- 
niiign,  gives  a  frightful  i)icture  of  the  Irish  about  the  middle  of  the 
rjtli  century;  wicked  indeed  must  they  have  been,  since  the  holy 
prelate  found  the  following  reformation  necessary  :  "  Cessavit  duritia, 
quievit  barbaries,  at  doinus  exasperans  paulatim  leniri  coepit,  paula- 
titn  correptionem  admittere,  accipere  disciplinam,  fiunt  de  medio  bar 


ST.    MAKLTAMHLACHT. 


63 


Xot  tlironu;!!  fiwor  to  the  Saxons, 
r>iit  tlirough  enmity  to  the  Irish. 

Inform  us,  O  sainted  Cleric, 
It'  you  have  had  the  information ; 
Shall  the  free  race  of  Ilebor 
lAcmain  ahvavs  in  thraldom  ? 

Whenever  the  strangers*  will  become  guilty      [Milesius  ; 
Of  crimes  as  great  as  tliose  committed  by  the  children  of 
The  bulwark  of  the  strangers  will  be  destroyed, 
And  Eire  become  the  property  of  the  original  owners.  ^ 

It  is  lonjr  uutil  these  things  shall  come  to  pass. 
Concerning  wiiich  I  have  been  speaking — 

\n\rUx  lecres  Eomanue  introtlucuntur,  recipluntnrubiqne  ecelesiasticse 
.■(.nsuetuViues,  contraria)  rcjiciuntur,  resBaifieiintiir  bnsilioiaj,  or.lina- 
tM8  clcnu,  in  iil'iB,  saeramoiitornm  soleiiuiiaritc  celebraMtur,eor.lcsio- 
nes  liunt,  ad  ecclesium  conveniutit  plebes,  cancubinatna  lioiiestat  c-elc- 
l)ritft8  nnptiaruni,  postretno  sic  in  rncUus  mutata  omnia,  ut  liodio  illi 
crenti  convenittt  quod  Dominua  per  proplietas  dicit ;  qui  luito  non 
m.puluH  mens,  none  populus  meus,"  old.  Div.  Bernard,  in  vit.  Mal- 
iichue.    When  St.  Bernard  gives  so  horrid  a  picture  ot*  tlie  morals  of 
the  Irish  people  it  is  no  wonder  tliat  our  saint  would  use  the  words 
r)f  the  text  in  reference  to  them.    It  appears  evident  from  this  stanza 
that  the  Irish,  like  every  nation  that  fell  into  crime,  were  handed 
over  to  foreign  bondage  to  be  lashed  with  rods  of  iron  for  tlieir 
crimes  ;  it  is,  however,  consoling  to  learn  that  this  slavery  shall  have 
d  termination.     It  is  of  this  stanza  O'Sullivan  Bcare  speaks. 
*  There  is  another  version  of  this  stanza,  as  follows  :— 
"  Whenever  the  strangers  will  commit  great  evils. 

Against  the  children  of  Milesius, 

The  Saxons  shall  be  expelled, 

And  Eire  become  the  property  of  her  rightful  owuers." 


MMMMMMMM 


^    ••>■ 


! 

I 

I 


li  <t 


04 


THK   PItOPIIECY    OF 


May  t^e  Son  of  supreme  power  (God)  grant, 
Thai  we  may  not  see  those  days ! 

RELATE,  &c 


-♦-•-•►• 


*l 


ST.  ULTAN*  CECINIT. 

The  force  of  this  wind  from  the  east, 

Shakes  the  p^'ow  of  niv  bark ; 

Sad  to  my  heart  is  the  time, 

When  peisecutions  come  npon  the  Church. 

I  will  tell,  *  *  * 

That  will  reduce  youth  to  degeneracy  ; 
Is  the  meaning  of  that  significative  wind, 
luteliiorible  to  you  ? 


Its  meaning  has  not  been  made  manifest  to  us, 
O  Ultan  of  the  most  upright  intentions ; 
Inform  us,  then,  for  sake  of  the  Heavenly  God, 
Since  it  has  been  manifested  to  you. 

In  consequence  of  matters  made  manifest  to  me, 
Through  the  tears  I  shed  for  my  errors  ; 

*  St.  Ultan  was  successor  of  Bruccan  in  the  abbey  of  ArdbraceaiV; 
near  Navan,  in  the  County  of  Meatli :  our  Saint  wrote  a  Life  of  Saint 
Tatrick,  and  some  other  pieces,  besides  his  prophecies.  He  died  A. 
D.  656. 

+  This  portion  of  the  verse,  illegible  in  tha  vellum  MS.,  is  unint^lli- 
pi  bio  in  another  more  modern  one  which  has  come  to  hand  ;  even  in 
tiie  Maynooth  copy  it  is  unsatisfactory. 


ST.   ULTAN. 


My  eyes  continued  shedding  tears, 
Until  the  close  of  that  week  ! 


» 


65 


I  will  unfold  unto  you 

The  history  of  the  latter  ages  of  the  world  ; 

How  the  forces  of  the  Galls  will  come  over  the  sea, 

To  subjugate  the  Gaels  (the  people  of  Ireland). 

Ruadhrighc^'  (Roderick)  son  of  Torlough  the  brave, 
Will  then  be  monarch  of  all  Ireland ; 
In  his  time  Danair  (strangers)  will  arrive 
From  the  east;  they  will  be  clad  in  armor. 

There  will  be  a  certf.in  woman,  who  will  spoil. 
The  plains  of  Meathf  and  of  Bregia, 
To<»-ether  with  Connauo-ht  and  Cashel  of  Core ; 
She  will  spoil  them  on  account  of  her  paramour. 

A  Euadh  (red-haired  person)  shall  be  born  in  the  province 
Who  will  be  esteemed  a  good  man ;  [of  Leinster, 

But,  nlas !  though  this  shall  be  his  character, 
Better  for  the  Irish  he  was  never  born. 

This  wind,  which  will  blow  over  us  for  a  time. 

And  which  will  force  us  to  deviate  from  our  true  course  ; 

*  Ruaidre.  Euadhrigh,  or  Eoderick  O'Connor,  was  monarcli  of 
Ireland  when  tlie  Saxon  invasion  took  place. 

t  Magi  Mldhe,  dtc.  Plains  of  Moath,  Bt-egla  in  Mcatli,  Oruachin, 
and  Cashel.  Tlie  woman  here  mentioned  is  generally  supposed  to 
have  been  the  frail  queen  of  0'Roarl<o,  king  of  Briefne,  who  eloped 
with  the  king  of  Leinster,  which  circumstance  was  the  main  cause 
of  the  Saxon  invasion.  Tocmic,  gen.  tocmac,  nom.  Some  copies 
read  Ihcmurc,  dowry. 


m 


!M 


I 


iiiMirrirr  i---   1' 


i  I 


4 


Ii  I    i 


60 


• 


TllK    rilOPIiKCY   OF 


li  is  ;hrouirli  the  infliionce  of  this  same  wind  fi-om  tho  cr*st. 
Ail  the  Gaels  ahixW  be  ruined ! 

I  tliii.U  it  long  until  the  King  of  Saxon^s  son,* 

'«Viil  eoine  over  the  sea,  and  not  for  love  of  liini ; 

Uiitin  consequence  of  his  coming,  O  CHRIST, 

The-  strangers  shall  be  expelled  by  my  kindred  tVom  Eire. 

On  a  Friday  they  will  leave  their  home. 
On  a  Wednesday  they  will  come  into  harbor; 
Three  half  years,  I  retain  in  my  recollection, 
Siiall  his  reie'n  swav  over  Ireland. 

Three  nights  will  he  spend  in  Ireland  at  the  time, 
Until  he  come  to  this  place  ; 
The  circumstance  is  a  pain  to  my  :i o.  rt, — 
The  city  will  be  in  a  blaze  of  fire. 

*  Tlio  King  of  Saxon's  son,  who  is  liere  foretold  should  visit 
I I'chmd,  Is  supposed  by  many  to  Imvc  been  the  voluptuous  George 
IV.  If  lie  be  the  person  foretold,  we  cannot  clearly  see  hovv  the  ex- 
puUlon  of  the  aliens  came  about,  in  consequence  of  his  idlc;  mean- 
ingless visit,  though  it  is  evident  their  power  in  this  country  is  not 
augmenting  since  1821.  It  is,  however,  more  probaole  that  this  royal 
I)ersonage  is  not  yet  come,  since  St.  Seandan,  apparently  treating 
about  the  same  individnaJ,  says  : — 

"The  king  of  the  Saxon's  son  wiU  come 
To  them  across  the  sea  ; 
lie  will  part  with  the  sovereignty 
Of  the  Galls  of  the  country  whev^.ce  ho  came  " 

It  is  vnry  likely  that  one  of  the  English  princes  may  bo  soul  over 
licro  with  the  view  of  gaining  the  aft'ections  of  the  people,  and  pre- 
KcTving  the  possession  of  the  country  for  England  ;  for  a  more  par- 
tiouitir  account  of  this  prince,  see  the  Prophecy  of  St.  Seandan,  Of 


ST.    ULTAN. 


67 


A  l»;ittk'  will  bf  f  Hiir'ut  al  l.)iibh-atli,  near  Maistean  * 
The  >tnuiireis  will  leave  tlieir  iiiclosnres ; 
1  |.!vKt  that  It  (the  battle)  be  given  tliern, 
i'oi-  thev  shall  be  after  that  in  long  affliction. 

1  «icc!ee  oppressive  taxesf 

To  be  (.lenianded  every  hour  (frequently), 

A  .scrapal  upon  eacii  individual,  though  oppressive, 

And  an  unffci  of  gold  upon  every  hearth. 

After  this  Kiaran  the  inild  will  ask, — 
lie  the  pure,  the  celebrated  cleric, — 
Wlnit  shall  Saint  Bridget  do  on  the  occasion, 
Her  aid  will  be  with  Kiaran. 

Saint  Kiaran,  I  perceive,  is  with  the  Connaughtraen, 
I  seldom  hear  his  real  merit  recorded  ; — 
And  Bridget,  in  every  condition  ever-powerful, 
Assistinof  the  forces  of  Leinster. 

A  battle  will  be  fought  at  Balina.J; 

III  which  a  very  imperious  king  shall  be  worsted  ; 

«•  Koally  this  buttle  tlius  predicted  is  not  the  trcticlieroas  massacru 
or  the  Irish  chiefs  on  tlie  liiitli  of  Mnllaghniast,  but  one  yet  to  be 
fouffht  between  the  English  forces  and  the  natives,  assisted  by  tlie 
foreigners,  who  will  assemble  on  the  Curragh  of  Kildare.  Tliosc 
foreign  Ibrces  shall  be  carried  hither  by  roivin<}  wheels,  vide  St.  OA- 
xmU-ille,  pages  37,  38,  31). 

t  Dlighimsl  cisa  crmidhe.  I  decree  oppressive  taxes.  Those 
heavy  taxes  to  be  imposed  upon  the  people  constitute  one  of  the 
spociul  themes  of  prophecy-men  throughout  all  parts  of  the  island  ; 
if  the  poor-rates,  war-taxes,  &c.,  are  not  those  meant  it  is  difficult  tc 
conjecture  what  tl>e  prophet's  meaning  may  be. 

X  lieal-an  atha.    Ballina,  vid.  SL  Columbh'UU. 


^'1 


': 


.1',  mi     rit' 


68 


TIIK   riiDPHKCY    OF 


TliMt  b.ittle  will  be  made  gory  • 

In  the  morning  by  the  men  of  Connaught. 

The  king*  of  Ulster  shall  be  slain  ; 
It  shall  not  prove  favorable  to  the  king  of  Munster, 
Nor  shall  it  be  advantageous  to  the  king  of  Meath  ;— 
The  Red  Branch  will  be  wounded. 

Then  the  Ruadh\  (Red-haired  person)  will  proceed  to  tht 

south, 
He  will  offer  much  opposition  to  the  Galls ; 
My  coniidence  in  the  Ruadh  for  valor — 
lie  will  free  Eire  from  her  diflficulties. 

In  a  month  after  that  hard-fought  battle, 
Another  kino-  will  come  from  the  north ; 
I  assure  you,  without  the  IcasL  deception, 
That  three  battles  will  be  broken  in  one  day. 

The  battle  shall  continue  during  a  whole  week, 
It  will  be  fought  by  the  sons  of  a  sovereign  prince  ; 
It  is  at  the  termination  of  the  week,  after  that 
The  aliens  shall  be  dispersed. 

*  BUjli.  King.  The  titles  prevalent  amongst  the  ancient  Irish 
were  Ard-ngh,  lilgh,  Hlgh-damhtia,  Flaith,  Tnatli,  dc,  i.  e.  sui)reinc 
Icing,  king,  king  elect  or  presumptive,  prince,  lord,  &c.  The  mili- 
tnry'  degrees  were,  TaoiseaoJi,  Fear  cead  complalnn,  Fearmonmka'ii'. 
Tdoiseach-rnuva,  dbc,  i.  e.  Commander  of  a  division,  centurion,  ehio/ 
of  nine  men,  admiral,  &o.  Kings  were  wont  to  lead  their  forec!^  in 
person,  hence,  king  is  the  designation  of  the  cliicf  commander  of  an 
vinny,  or  the  leader  of  a  province  or  district. 

t   Ruadh  meant  celebrated,  renowned,  as  well  as  red-haired. 


ST.    SEN  ANTS. 


69 


Wednesday  will  be  the  day  of  the  battle 

r>y  which  the  aliens  shall  be  driven  t'roni  their  strongholds, 

None  of  thein  shall  remain  after  that 

lint,  what  birds  would  be  able  to  carry  off  in  their  claws! 

!  am  Uitan,  of  the  province  of  Ulster, — 

1  nanale  the  truth,  though  it  is  painful  to  me; 

IVitler  indeed  to  my  heart 

Is  the  violence  and  power  of  that  wmd. 

THE  FORCE,  &c. 


1 1 


;  i 


-♦■-•-♦- 


SENANUS*  CECINIT. 

Impart  to  me,  O  Senanus  (Sedna), 
Information  concerning  the  latter  ages  of  the  world; 
What  shall  be  the  condition  of  the  race  of  people 
Who  will  not  observe  rectitude  in  their  judgments. 

What  shall  be  the  condition  of  the  people 

Who  will  entertain  false  and  treacherous  intentions; 

Shall  anv  individual  of  them  be  admitted 

Into  the  regal  mansions  of  heaven  ? 

*  Scadiuin,  8eandan,  and  Senanus,  was  abbot  of  Inr.Iscatliy  some- 
i!,,ics  called  Catliaigli-innis,  now  Scattery  Island ,  St.  Patrick  found- 
i;  I  a  jnoiiastcry  on  this  island,  and  made  St.  Sednan,  or  Senanus, 
•,ibl)f)t  thereof.'  The  ishmd  is  situntr.^.  in  the  mouth  of  the  Shannon, 
l)rt\v(>euthf;  counties  of  Claro  »nr  £..rry;  it  was  celebrated  for  tho 
»nn-\hv  or'  its  religious  fraterni;.,,  m\d  also  for  the  number  of  ita 
c.Mircho^  11  of  which  were  standing  at  tho  time  of  the  suppressiott 
of  Hi !i '-ions  houses. 


ii 


70 


THE    PKOIMM^Y    OP 


l» 


1' 


>  IRB' 


11 


T  take  K-ave  to  assure  yoii,  0  Cleric, 

That  every  king  who  will  invade  this  couLtrj"^ 

Ev^y  race  that  will  rule  over  Eire, 

1  View  with  perspicuity. 

Falsehood  will  characterize  that  class  of  men  [law  . 

Who  will  sit  in  judgrment  to  pti»s  sentence  accordi..^  u- 
J^tween  the  father  and  his  son 
Litigations  will  subset. 

Tlie  clergy  of  the  church 

Will  be  addicted  to  pride  and  injustice ; 

The  advantages  they  will  aim  at 

Shall  be  the  possession  of  wor;Jly  substanct* 

Wouien  will  abandon  feelings  of  delicacy,* 

And  cohabit  with  men  out  of  wedlock ; 

They  will  follow  those  practices  without  apctc^;^, 

Ami  such  habits  will  t>ecome  almost  unsuppressible. 

The  Qiwth  will  not  produce  its  fruits 

For  the  race  of  people  to  whom  I  allude ; 

Full  mansions  wib  be  deserted, 

And  unpleasant  will  be  the  tidings  concerning  them. 

Dreadful  plagues  will  come 

Upon  all  the  race  of  Adam ; 

All  will  rush  into  iniquity 

Aixainst  the  will  of  the  Sou  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  "Nfarv. 

*  For  farther  accounts  conoernino'  the  stute  of  immorality  oniiscl 
by  tlse  Noi'sem.an  invasion,  see  St.  Cohunbkille,  St.  Bernurd\s  Lite  of 
fcft.  Mulachy,  Archbishoo  of  Armagli,  &c. 


i:  ,-■■.■ 


;  -*♦  •■  ■  '■' 


ST.   SENANUS. 


71 


The  Clann  Cartha  and  Clann  Eogliain 
Shall  be  expelled  from  Cashel ; 
So  none  shall  hold  princely  inheritance, 
I'lxeept  aliens  and  sojourners. 

The  free  race  of  the  O'Brien 

Shall  be  expelled  beyond  the  clear  waters  of  the  Shannon ; 

I  can  recognize,  in  my  present  position, 

The  decline  that  will  come  upon  their  families. 

Who  shall  destroy  the  people 

Who  reside  in  this  country  of  numerous  habitations? 

Unfold  unto  me,  0  Scnanus, 

The  information  that  is  unpleasant. 

A  strange  people  will  arrive  and  take  their  place,* 
According  to  the  knowledge  I  possess ; 
They  will  take  possession  of  the  maritime  parts. 
This  very  formidable  host  of  aliens. 

The  fleet  of  the  Saxons  will  arrivef 
In  the  commodious  harbors  of  Eire ; 
Their  mild  deeds  will  be  few ; — 
Their  kings  will  be  persecutors. 

They  will  rule     *****     ycarsf     *     * 
A^  sovereigns  of  the  land  of  Fodhla  (Ireland) ; 
Until  thev  will  commit  murders 
Without  warning  their  enemies  (victims). 

*  T!ic  Danish  invasion.  t  The  English  invasion. 

X  We  found  no  intelli;,'ible  words  in  modern  MSS.  to  supply  those 

iilcgible  in  the  old  copy. 

8* 


72 


THK   PROPilKCY    OF 


They  themselves  will  betray  each  other, 
In  consequence  of  which  their  sovereignty  will  be  bi'oket» ; 
They  will  stain  their  swords  and  battle-axes  with  blood ; — 
They  will  be  a  selfish  race,  devoid  of  benignity. 

The  son  of  the  King  of  Saxon  will  come* 

'J'o  join  them  across  the  sea ; 

He  will  part  with  the  sovereignty 

Of  the  Galls  in  the  country  whence  he  will  come. 

The  Galls  and  the  Gaels  of  Ireland 
Will  unite  in  one  confederation  ; 
Against  the  forces  of  the  Saxons, 
Their  confederacy  cannot  be  dissolved. 

The  king  of  the  Saxon's  son  will  comef 

At  the  head  of  his  forces ; 

In  consequence  of  the  prott    'on  he  will  extend  to  them, 

Ireland  shall  be  freed  from  h.    fears. 

One  monarch  will  rule  in  Ireland, 
Over  the  Galls  and  the  pure  Gaels ; 
From  the  reign  of  that  man 
The  people  shall  suffer  no  destitution. 

*  Vide  note,  St.  Ultan's  prophecy,  page  66. 

t  Tic/adh  mac  Jii  Saxan.  The  King  of  Saxon's  son  will  eomc. 
From  the  text  it  appears  that  some  English  prince  will  come  hithef 
on  a  martial  expedition,  but  it  is  impossible  to  conjecture  liow  tlii'* 
union  and  fusion  of  the  Saxons  and  Gaels  may  happen;  true  it  is, 
howevc",  that  the  foregoing  English  princes  and  kings  are  not 
meant,  because  the  nations  were  never  yet  united;  and  the  Iriaii 
never  enjoyed  happiness  under  any  one  of  the  English  kings. 


I   p 


COIRICALL,  SON    OF   CUONAN.  78 

COlllEALL,  SON  OF  CRONAN*  CECINIT. 

How  wretchedly  it  fares  in  Eiin  this  night, 

The  Galls  and  Gaels  in  vexatious  contention ; 

The  Gaels  shall  be  worsted  in  the  dispute, 

Until  the  time  that  Sriangallaf  will  come  from  Derry. , 

Their  people  (the  aliens)  will  be  powerful 
Upon  the  boundless  ocean ; 
The  Gaels  will  sink  down  into  degeneracy 
They  shall  become  beggars,  wretches,  and  slaves. 

The  condition  of  the  Gaels  shall  be  sorrowful. 
They  wiU  be  bad  themselves,  and  their  history  disreputable ; 
Wickedness  and  deceit,  falsehood  and  treachery, 
Shall  affect  the  clergy  continually. 

All  the  Gaels  shall  be  held  in  thraldom 

To  the  Easterns,  their  substance  as  well  as  their  people ; 

*  Coireall,  son  of  Cronan,  is  written  Coireall,  son  of  Kenan,  in  some 
MSS.  Tsotliing  has  come  as  yet  to  hand  to  warrant  us  in  statijijr 
precisely  who  he  was,  or  the  age  in  which  he  lived ;  but  from  the 
first  stanza,  wherein  he  describes  the  very  wretched  condition  of 
Ireland  at  the  time,  it  may  be  pretty  safely  inferred  that  he  lived  at 
the  commencement  of  the  Danish  invasion,  and,  from  the  conciiuVum' 
portion  of  his  prophecy,  that  he  belonged  to  the  great  Abbey  of 
Bangor,  Co.  Down.  The  language  in  which  the  prophecy  is  written, 
is  clear  evidence  of  its  being  a  more  modern  composition  than  thuM- 
of  other  saints.    Wo  say  this  in  the  absence  of  reliable  documents. 

t  Sriangalla  literally  signifies  the  curb,  or  bridle  of  the  GaLL"  or 
draugers:  some  have  thoug>it  that  Strangwell,  or  Strongbow,  Earl 
of  Pembroke,  who  led  the  first  Saxon  invasion,  is  meant,  bur  lie 
cannot  be  this  person,  as  it  appears  more  reasonable  that  Brian 
Boroimhe  is  the  curb  of  the  strangers  mentioned.  He  may,  never- 
tlteless,  be  one  not  yet  come. 


i 


I 


ail 


74-  THE  rRoriiECY  of 

For  seven-score  years*  in  full, 
Sliall  the  clergy  suifer  persecution. 

At  the  termination  of  seven-score  years  in  full, 
Sriangalla  will  come  on  the  lake  of  ships; 
A  bold  expedition,  from  which  sorrow  shall  proceed, 
Will  be  the  engagement  of  those  speckled  ship.^. 

Til  is  struggle  will  be  a  hard  one, 
There  shall  be  many  more  left  dead  than  alive ; 
So  j^reat  will  the  carnage  of  warriors  above  Glasdruim  be, 
That  with  the  exception  of  a  small  remnant,  it  will  be  a 
general  slaughter. 

Tlie  people  composing  the  armament  shall  be  there  de- 
spoiled ; — 
'J'he  power  of  the  Galls  shall  diminishito  nothing, 
I'pon  the  armed  men  above  DruTn-cro,t 
I'estilence  and  anguish  shall  descend. 

It  is  by  this  fleet,  that  will  come  across  the  sea, 
The  transgression  will  be  committed ; 
The  Gaels  will  be  from  darkness  to  darkness, 
During  three  days,  engaged  in  slaughtering  them. 

The  fate  of  the  women  of  this  fleet  will  be  pitiful, 
They  shall  deliver  their  progeny  to  wretchedness ; 
They  shall  remain  in  bon^Age  in  the  country, 
Except  a  few,  who  will  eftect  their  escape  over  the  sea. 

*  Seven-score  years  niufit  luvve  a  prophetic  meaning  diificult  to  ex- 
plain. Sriangal'la  is  the  person  who  shall  restore  liberty  to  the  op- 
prcRsed  Irish.^    Hence  the  Danes  can  by  no  mean^  be  alluJeU  to  hero. 

t  Drcnn-cro,  the  hill  of  blood. 


COIRKAI.L,    80N'    OF    CUONAN. 


75 


That  sliall  ha  the  dooni  of  the  forces  (Composing  this  expo- 

ilition, 
Conce'.nin*^  whose  fate  I  indulge  in  lamentation; — 
Sriangalhi  will  be  the  l:ing 
Who  will  rodiioe  thi  power  of  the  Galls  to  nanght. 

From  that  time  Sriangalla  will  be 
Kuirnced  in  cuuteiiLion  and  battle; 
devoid  of  any  falsenood, 


It 


IS  a 


fact. 


Tiiat  he  shall  be  slain  in  a  bloody  battle. 

The  cemet'M'y*  which  the  king  will  choose, 

On  the  occasion  of  his  corpse  being  laid  "    dust, 

Shall  be  a  cemetery  renowned  for  being  frequented  by 

crowds, 
Where  souls  shall  be  much  benefited. 

Acdh  (Hugh)f  the  pure,  and  Hugh  the  sincere, 

Flann  of  Tara,  and  Flann  Ciotach ; 

It  is  lonor  until  one  of  those  kings  will  come,J: 

Until  then  a  sound  shall  not  be  heard  in  the  ceraeter}'. 

The  son  of  Donn  shall  be  expelled. 

From  his  territories  on  this  side  of  the  Shannon  ; 

Three  kings  of  Ireland  will  be  recorded,  [cemetery. 

To  have  directed   their  remains   to  be  interred   in   this 

*  Ro'deag.  Cemekry.  If  Brian  Boroimhe  be  the  person  to  whom 
allusion  is  made,  Armagh,  then,  is  the  cemetery,  as  that  monaroh 
by  his  will  ordered  that  his  remains  should  be  deposited  in  the  ca- 
thedral of  Armagh, 
t  St.  Columbkillc's  prophetic  poem  on  the  celebrated  Aedhs, 
X  Fada,  d;o.  This  proves  clearly  that  one  of  those  great  warriors 
called  Aedh  has  not  yet  appeared.—  Vide  Columb.  on  the  Aedhs,  et  alibi. 


& 
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33  WEST  MAIN  STREIT 

WEBSVER,N.Y.  HSEb 

(716)  373.4903 


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rcy 


TrtE   PROPHECY    OF 


Did  the  Gaels  only  learn  the  truth  of  the  fact,  as  it  is, — 

All  their  men,  youths,  and  women, — 

(Did  they  know)  the  extraordinary  privileges  attached  tc 

this  smooth  cemetery, 
It  is  in  it  they  would  arise  to  the  general  Judgment. 

Were  all  the  Gaels  that  ever  lived  and  shall  live, 
Interred  in  the  mould  of  this  cemetery, 
Murky  demons  should  not  have  power  to  carry  away 
'i'lie  least  among  them  from  Beanachoir.* 

C'Onsecrated  from  this  day  henceforth  forever. 

Is  this  spot  which  will  prove  beneficial  to  all ; 

There  is  no  place  similar  to  it  in  point  of  importance;— 

This  level  spot  is  the  third  Rome  ! 

HOW  WRETCHEDLY ! 


-♦-•-♦■ 


SAINT  BEARCANf  CECINIT. 

Bear  back  my  blessings  for  prosperity  to  Ireland, 
On  my  arrival  in  chilling  Arran  ; — 


*  Berinachur.  Bangor  in  the  county  of  Down.  The  great  celeb- 
rity attained  by  the  monks  of  Bangor  is  beyond  belief.  It  is  im- 
poss^ible  to  give  a  description  of  the  holy  Bangor,  or  of  the  sanctified 
ini8toms  of  the  place  here,  because  we  would  go  largely  into  history 
instead  of  prophecy. 

t  St.  Bearcan  was  abbot  of  the  monastery  of  Glasnevin  ;  he  died 
on  the  12th  day  of  October,  544 ;  he  wrote  a  poem  in  praise  of  St. 
Bridget,  according  to  O'Eeilly's  Irish  writers ;  he  was  a  person  of 
great  sanctity,  and  is  said  to  have  wrought  many  miracles.    In  a 


ST.    BEARCAN. 


77 


Fielancl  shall  remain  without  order  or  prosperity, 

Until  she  will  be  relieved  by  Hugh  (Aedh)  the  sincere  * 

After  the  man  whose  cognomen  will  be  Ruadh  (red),t 
A  spirit  of  fire  will  come  from  the  north ; 

poem  said  to  have  been  an  extract  from  the  Psalter  of  Casliel.  tlie 
following  notice  of  his  prophecies  is  found.    It  commences  : 
"  A  Saxon  invasion  from  the  east, 

Will  come  upon  green  Eire ; 

Mael-na-mbo  and  his  clann, 

Will  lead  them  into  the  territory. 

Until  a  battle  shall  be  fought  at  Singland, 
They  (the  Irish)  shall  possess  no  fortress  ; 
After  the  battle  of  Singland  the  Gall?  shall  not  be 
Long  in  possession  of  the  strongholds  of  Eire. 

They  will  drive  the  Saxons  across  the  sea, 
And  separate  them  from  their  possessions ; 
I  rejoice  at  their  downfall- 
It  is  in  the  Book  of  the  Ancients  I  found  it. 

The  Albanians  (Scots)  will  then  arrive, 

They  will  behave  bravely  at  the  battle  of  Singland  ; 

Powerful  shall  the  men  of  Alba  be, 

In  banishing  the  Galls  (strangers). 

I  think  the  time  long,  by  my  hand, 

'Till  the  prophecy  of  Bearcan  he  fulfilled  ; 

So  that  I  might  behold  Aedh  the  dauntless, 

In  the  sovereignty  of  the  noble  Tara." 
This  extract  of  a  poem,  said  to  be  found  in  the  Psalter  of  Cushel, 
»how8  the  estimation  in  which  the  prophecy  of  St.  Bearcan  was  held 
by  the  ancients,  and  confirms  an  opinion  expressed  in  a  note  on  the 
prophecies  of  St.  Columbkille,  namely,  that  the  third  Aedh,  or  Ilugh, 
of  whom  that  saint  treated,  is  not  yet  entered  on  his  career  of  mili- 
tury  glury. 

*  Aedh  aengach.    Aedh,  or  Hugh  the  fearless,  vUle  prectdlng  uoU^ 
nud  St.  Cohimbkille,  jt?a^e  35. 
t  Ruadh.    Red-haired,  or  renowned.    Tl)is  prophecy  to  all  ap 


78 


THE  PROPHECY  OF  ST.  BEARCAN. 


lie  will  march  towards  Dublin  ; — 

Tliore  will  be  but  one  lord  over  all  Ireland. 

Inform  us,  0  amiable  Bearcan, 

Wlwit  Kiaran*  the  pious  foretold  ; 

How  shali  Ireland  continue  without  prospeiity 

Henceforth,  until  the  days  of  that  Huo;h  ? 

She  will  be  situated  like  a  soul  in  torture, 
For  a  long  time  awaiting  a  cooling  relief; 
Ireland  shall  bend  under  the  thraldom  of  the  great. 
And  her  people  will  submit  to  the  yoke  of  aliens. 

Wretched  shall  be  the  state  of  that  Eire  we  are  about  tc 
Until  a  friend  will  arrive  at  the^Port  of  Patrick;     [have, 
'I'he  son  of  the  vigorous  JDearg,  with  great  renown, 
Patrick  will  be  by  his  side  in  battle. 

He  will  deal  favorably  with  your  Cloyne, 
O  Kiaran  of  the  pure  voice  ;t 
Twice  thirty  years  will  his  might  last, 
During  that  period  his  power  shall  not  decline. 

It  is  he  that  will  bring  affliction  on  the  Gall8,J 
By  whiijh  their  savage  hordes  shall  suffer  ; 
Until  he  will  sail  across  the  azure  sea  to  Rome, 
He  will  be  a  o-reat  kino*  i-enowned  for  feats  of  arms. 

pearatice  refers  to  lln<?h  O'Neill  aiul  licJ  llii^li  O'DonncU,  yet  we 
think  some  other  person  i»  meant. 

*  St.  Kiaran  wrote  some  proi>heeies,  but  we  have  not  seen  them 
tbey  are  probably  \o^\. 

•f   Oluain.     Clonmacnoise  of  St.  Kiaran. 

X  TIlis  sta^iza  ap}>ears  to  be  an  intccpohition.  I  romein1)er  that  it 
was  written  in  ilitiereiit  lia:ulwritiii,i,'  to  t  e  rest  of  the  MS.  from 
wliieh  I  liavc  copied,  it. 


19 


LIFE  OF  SAINT  MALACHY, 

ARCHBISHOP    OF   ARMAGH,    A.  D.   1148. 

Having  been  requested  by  Mr.  O'Keamoy  to  prcfarc 
the  transcript  of  P^re  Gorjeu's  interpretation  of  St.  Mm- 
lachy's  prophecy  with  a  short  sketch  of  his  life,  we  beg 
in  limine  to  state^  the  following  pa^es  are  compiled  from 
Baronius'  "  Annates  JScclesiastici''^  (xii.  p.  305),  Kohr- 
lacher's  Jlistoire  de  VEglise  Catholique  (xv.),  Butler's 
"  Lives  of  the  Saints j^  and  Lingard's  "  History  of  Emj- 
land,^^ 

It  is  with  no  ordinary  feeling  of  timidity  that  we  von 
ture  to  take  up  our  pen  to  wriPi  a  few  words  respecting  a 
Prelate  who  rendered  Ireland  the  Island  of  Saints,  illus- 
trious as  well  by  his  sanctity  and  learning  as  by  his  close 
intimacy  with  the  great  St.  Bernard  of  Clairvaux,  in 
whose  monastery  and  under  whose  spiritual  direction  ke 
confided  his  soul  to  the  care  of  his  God  and  Redeemer, 
.Iksus  Christ. 

St.  Malachy  (called  in  Irish  Maol-Maodhog  O'Morgair) 
WMS  born  at  Armagh  (the  Archiepiscopal  See  of  which 
lie  was  destined  to  adorn  in  after  years),  in  1094  ;  his  pa- 
rents were  of  high  rank  and  very  virtuous  withal,  so  that 
tliov  were  anxious  to  train  him  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 
lie  was  ever  distino'uished  for  his  meekness,  humilitv, 
obedience,  modesty,  and  was  truly  diligent  in  his  studies. 

St.  Malachy  was  recommended  for  Holy  Orders  by  a 
saintly  recluse  (Imarus),  whose  cell  was  in  the  vicinity  of 

9 


u 


THE   IJFE  OF  ST.    MALACHT. 


tld  Cathedral  Church  of  Armagh,  and  whose  disciple  ho 
luA  long  been,  notwithstanding  the  jeering  of  his  friends, 
who  could  not  bear  the  thought  that  one  of  so  delicate 
a  constitution,  and  such  fine  accomplishments  and  disposi- 
tion for  the  world,  should  embrace  so  mean  and  con- 
temptible a  state  of  life.  He  was  ordained  Deacon  by 
Celaus,  Archbishop  of  Armagh,  and  in  his  twenty-fifth 
year  was  raised  to  the  Priesthood.  Celsus  appointed  him 
his  Vicar,  when  St.  Malachy  made  "  several  regulations 
in  ecclesiastical  discipline,  which  were  authorized  by  the 
13ishop,  and  settled  the  regular  solemn  rehearsal  of  the 
canonical  hours  in  all  the  Churches  of  the  Diocese, 
which,  since  the  Danish  invasion,  had  been  omitted,  even 
in  the  Episcopal  cities ;  he  had  learned  chanting  in  his 
youth,  and  had  preserved  it  in  his  Monastery,  even  at  a 
period  when  there  were  more  who  could  not  or  would  not 
say,  either  in  the  city  or  Diocese  {lorsquil  rCy  avail 
encore  personne  qui  silt  on  voulkt  chanter,  soit  dans  la 
ille,  soit  dans  la  diocese)  ;  what  was  yet  of  much  greater 
importance,  he  re-established  the  use  of  the  Sacraments, 
of  Confession  or  Penance,  Confirmation,  and  the  regular 
performance  of  Matrimony.* 

Our  Saint,  being  apprehensive  that  he  was  not  sufficient- 
ly acquainted  with  the  canons  of  the  Church  to  effect  a 
thorough  reformation  of  discipline,  betook  himself,  with 
the  consent  and  approbation  of  his  Diocesan  and  director, 
to  Malchus,  Bishop  cf  Lismore,  who  was  regarded,  on  ac- 

*  Eecipiuntur  ubique  Ecclesiastiose  consuetudines  contrarJae  reji- 
ciuntur  saeramentorum  rite  solenniia  eelebrantur  confessiones  flunt 
iid  ecclesiam  convcniunt  plebcs,  concubinatus  honestnt  cclebritas 
nuptiavum. 


count  i 
Ireland 
lielongi 

Aftei 
lie  was 
Avhen  1] 
revenue 
This  re 
in  555, 
ill  Irela 
trious  ^ 
Oolumb 
forms  I 
was  fav 
ed,  we  I 

VVhe 
ted  at  t 
of  Com 
death  o 
See  of  1 
self,  unt 
Legate, 
ercise  h 
who  ha 
.•elate 
and  the 
the  sole 

St.  M 
obtain  1 
that  of 


THE    LIFE    OF   ST.    MALACliy. 


81 


count  of  his  sanctity  and  leftininof,  as  the  oracle  of  all 
Ireland,  and  was  by  him  diligently  instructed  in  all  things 
iKJJonging  to  the  divine  service  and  the  care  of  souls. 

After  Malachy  had  resi  led  for  some  time  at  Lismore 
he  was  recalled  by  his  Diocesan,  and  returned  to  Armagh, 
Avhen  he  Avas  placed  over  the  Abbey  of  Benchor,*  the 
revenues  of  which  were  enjoyed  by  one  of  his  uncles. 
This  religious  house  had  been  founded  by  St.  Comgall, 
in  555,  and  was  the  parent  of  numerous  colleges,  as  well 
in  Ireland  as  in  England  and  Scotland,  and  of  several  illus-. 
trious  Saints;  among  them  we  need  only  mention  Saint 
Oolumbanus.  While  Abbot  of  Benchor,  St.  Bernard  in- 
forms us  that  our  Saint  perfonned  many  mii-acles,  and 
was  favored  with  some  visions;  but  our  space  being  limit- 
ed, we  can  only  refer  to  these  circumstances  en  passant. 

When  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  age,  he  was  consecra- 
ted at  the  express  command  of  his  director,  Imar,  Bishop 
of  Connor.  He  remained  there  for  some  time,  until  the 
death  of  Celsus,  who  nppointed  him  his  successor  to  the 
See  of  Armagh,  an  office  he  was  unv/illing  to  take  on  him  • 
self,  until  threatened  with  excommunication  by  the  Papal 
Legate,  Gillibert,  Bishop  of  Limerick ;  but  he  did  not  ex- 
ercise his  episcopal  functions  until  the  death  of  Maurice, 
who  had  been  elected  by  the  relatives  of  the  deceased 
.•elate  Celsus,  when  he  was  installed  by  King  Cormac 
and  the  Bishops  of  the  province,  and  acknowledged  as 
the  sole  legitimate  metropolitan  of  Ireland,  a.  d.  1133. 

St.  Malachy,  on  his  way  to  Rome,  whither  he  went  to 
i)btain  the  Pallium,  as  well  for  the  Diocese  of  Armagh  as 
that  of  Tuam  (a  See  lately  erected  by  Celsus),  visited 

*  Benchor,  from  Benedict us-c/iorus. 


82 


TIIK    LIFK   OF   ST.    MAI/ACIIY. 


iU 


Clairvaux,  N,I:?^e  lie  formed  the  acquHintancc  of  St.  Ber- 
nard. At  Rome  he  was  received  with  honor  by  the 
Sovereign  Tontiff,  Innocent  II.,  who  would  not  hear  o1 
his  petition  for  spending  the  remainder  of  his  life  ni 
Clairvaux.  On  his  return,  he  again  called  on  St.  Bernard, 
and  left  four  of  his  companions  there,  who,  "taking  tlio 
Cestercian  habit,  afterwards  came  over  to  Ireland  and  in- 
stituted the  Ahhey  of  Mellifont,  in  1139." 

The  Pallium  not  having  been  sent  to  St.  Malachy,  as 
promised  by  Pope  Innocent  II.,  the  Archbishop  deter- 
mined  to  visit   Rome   to  see  Pope  Eugenius  III.,  and 
on   his  way   called   at  his  beloved   Clairvaux,   in    Oc- 
tober,  1148.     Having   celebrated  the  Conventual   Mass 
with  his  usual  devotion  on  the  feast  of  St.  Luke,  he  was 
seized  with  a  fever,  which  obliged  him  to  take  to  his  bed. 
The  good  monks  were  very  active  in  assisting  him ;  but  he 
assured  them  that  all  the  pains  they  took  about  him  were 
to  no  purpose,  as  he  would  not  recover,  for  he  well  knew 
that  his  end  was  at  hand,  and  was  certain  that  if  he  died 
that  year  it  would  be  on  the  festival  of  All  Souls;  as  he 
had  no  slight  confidence  in  the  assistance  which  the  de- 
parted received  from  them  on  that  day.     He  had  also 
said,  that  if  he  died  while  travelling,  it  would  be  at  Chiir- 
vaux.-    He  asked  for  the  Holy  Oil ;  and  as  the  Commu- 
nity were  preparing  to  bring  it  to  him  in  solemn  pro- 
cession, he  descended  from  his  room  to  the  Church,  and 
received  Extreme  Unction  and  the  Viaticum,  lying  on 
ashes  strewed  on  the  floor.    It  was  easily  perceived  on  the 
festival  of  All  Saints  that  he  was  dying,  and  the  whole 
Community  'were  summoned  to  his  bedside.     Looking  at 
them  he  said,  "I  have  most  earnestlv  desired  to  eat  this 

7  w 


THE    LIFK   OF   ST.    MALACIIY. 


S3 


passover  with  yon,  and  have  not  been  disappointed.* 
Then  he  added  :  "  Take  care  of  me,  I  will  not  forget  you 
if  1  be  allowed  ;  but  I  doubt  it  not,  for  I  have  believed  in 
(^o(J,  and  every  thing  is  possible  with  Him,  in  whom  I  be- 
lieve ;  I  have  loved  God,  and  haye  loved  you,  and  charity 
will  never  cease  ;"  and  looking  up  to  heaven,  he  said,  "0 
(Jod,  preserve  them  in  thy  name,  and  not  these  alone,  but 
all  those  who  by  my  word  and  entreaty  have  been  conse- 
crated to  thy  service."  Then  each  one  of  the  Communi- 
ty passed  him  individually,  and  he  bade  them  rest  them- 
selves, as  his  hour  was  not  yet  come.  The  Community 
returned  about  midnight,  and  accompanied  with  psalms 
and  spiritual  hymns  the  holy  soul  who  was  returning 
home :  all  had  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  dying  Prelate,  but 
none  perceived  that  he  had  breathed  his  last;  so  calmly 
did  he  fall  asleep  on  the  festival  of  All  Souls,  1148. 

His  Life  was  written  by  St.  Bernard,  at  the  request  of 
the  Abbot  of  Mellifont  (Corgan), 


It  may  be  deemed  superfluous,  if  not  arrogant,  in  oui 
calling  the  reader's  attention  to  a  controverted  subject, 
so  shortly  after  perusing  the  departure  of  a  Saint  to  his 
Father-land — so  shortly  after  witnessing  the  cheering 
eftect  of  the  exit  of  one  from  this  world  of  woe  to  that  of 
eternal  happiness,  it  may  be  that  feelings  of  holy  calm 
and  sorrow,  tempered  by  the  sweet  consolation  that  an- 
other protection  was  now  in  the  world  of  spirits  to  protect 
us  by  his  merits,  and  feeling  such  as  possessed  St.  Ber- 
nard and  his  brethren  at  Clairvaux,  may  possess  the  read- 
er's soul,  yet  it  is  our  duty  to  refer  to  the  accompanying 

Prophecy,  attributed  to  St.  Malachv. 

9* 


1 1  •  '  . 


u 


TriK   LIFE   OF   ST.    MALACHY. 


M 


M 

J*'  3 

iji 


The  Breviary  in  its  office  for  the  festival  of  St.  Malachy 
speaks  of  his  having  been  enriched  with  the  gift  of  proph- 
ecy ;  and  of  this,  who  can  doubt,  when  St.  Bernard  tells 
us  that  he  had  a  foreshadowing  of  his  death  ? 

The  objections  to  the  foli:>wing  prophecies  are,  as  far  m 
we  car  learn,  threefold  i — 

1.  The  silence  of  St.  Bernard. 

2.  The  tortuous  method  adopted  by  the  interpreters,  in 
{H)plying  thera  to  the  various  sovereign  pontiffs. 

3.  The  introduction  of  the  Anti-Popes,  as  in  Nos.  0,  7, 
8,  36,  42,  43,  44,  and  53. 

1.  The  silence  of  St.  Bernard.  It  is  contended  by 
those  who  are  skeptical  as  to  the  geuineness  of  these 
prophecies,  by  men  who  would,  alas !  require  almost  a 
visible  miracle,  to  enable  them  to  believe  in  Christ  Him- 
self, that  St.  Malachy's  own  biographer  was  ignorant  of 
their  existence ;  and  hence,  they  deem  and  hesitate  not  to 
call  these  prophecies  a  forgery,  &c.  &c.  They  forget 
that  in  all  probability  St.  Malachy,  from  his  excessive  hu- 
mility, lest  he  should  be  too  proud  of  the  gifts  of  God  to- 
wards himself,  might  never  have  mentioned  these  prophe- 
cies to  St.  Bernard.     But,  say  these  skeptics, 

2.  "The  tortuous  methods  adopted  by  the  various  in- 
terpreters in  applying  them  to  the  Sovereign  Pontiffs,  is 
a  second  couviucing  proof." 

We  would  fain  ask  the  objector,  if  all  unproved  pro- 
phecies are  so  plain  that  no  "tortuous  method"  is  re- 
quired to  explain  them.  Methinks  any  one  acquainted, 
no  matter  how  superficially,  with  the  writings  of  the  day, 
would  see  the  folly  of  this  objection  ;  but  what  "  tortuous 
methods"  arc  applied  by  our  interpreter,  Pere  Goijeu,  the 


THE   LIFE  OF  ST.    MALACHT. 


85 


only  one  we  have  met  with,  in  his  application  of  the  pro- 
phecies. Take  for  instances,  No.  5,  "  De  rure  allo.''^  Did 
it  require  much  ingenuity  to  npply  these  words  to  Adrian 
IV.  ?  Or  again,  No.  11,  sus  in  crebro — what  plainer  than 
its  application  to  Urban  III  ?  Or  what  ingenuity  is  shown 
in  27,  "  JRosa  Composita  ?"  Are  not  the  prophecies  No. 
06,  100,  and  101,  equally  clear?  Might  it  not  be  said 
with  truth  of  Pius  VI.  that  he  was  Peregrinus  apostoli- 
ciis  ?  Did  not  Gregory  XVI.  come  from  De  Balnels 
EtruvicB  ?  And  of  Pius  IX.  who  is  there  that  will  deny  the 
applicability  of  the  words  "Crux  dk  Cruce  ;"  were  tliey 
not  universally  used  during  the  revo'  .cion  of  1 848,  when 
a  lawless  band  of  ruffians  and  marauders  possessed  the 
Eternal  City,  and  compelled  the  Lord's  anointed  to  flee 
to  Gaeta  ?  It  may  be  said  that  Crux  de  Cruce,  could  bo 
applied  with  equal  truth  to  Clement  VII.  and  Pius  VI.  as 
to  Pius  IX. ;  but,  though  Rome  was  sacked  in  the  days  of 
Clement  VII.,  still,  with  that  solitary  exception,  it  could 
not  be  said  that  his  life  was  Crux  de  Cruce.  So  also  with 
Pius  VI. :  to  none,  then,  can  these  words  apply  with  greater 
force,  than  to  that  wonderful  man,  raised  up — providen- 
tially raised  up — to  sit  in  the  chair  of  St.  Peter,  in  these 
troublous  times.  Let  one  read  the  history  of  the  last 
few  years,  and  every  act  of  Pius  IX.  brings  before  the 
mind  of  the  reader  the  words  Crux  de  Cruce,  with  aw- 
ful solemnity.  Clement  VII.  was  not  compelled  to  quit 
Rome ;  Pius  VI.  was  conducted  as  a  prisoner  to  Fontaine- 
bleau  ;  whereas,  Pius  IX.  was  obliged  to  flee  for  his  life  to 
Gaeta,  and  throw  himself  on  the  protection  of  a  foreign 
sovereign :  but  neither  time  nor  space  will  allow  us  to  en- 
ter further  into  this  point. 


86 


THE   LIFE   OF   8T.    MALACHT. 


i     '-f 


Tlie  third  objection  is — The  introduction  of  the  Antl* 

]'<)jK'8. 

The  sacred  pages  recording  the  children  of  Israel,  men- 
tion the  names  of  usurpers  and  W  so-ve reigns,  so  also 
does  profane  history ;  and  therefore  why  should  not  St. 
Malachy  have  had  the  schismatical  Victou  IV.  in  his 
mind,  when  he  inserted  the  words  Ux  tetro  Carcere?  to 
Avhom  can  they  be  so  well  applied  ?  who  so  blind  as  one 
deprived  of  the  successors  of  St.  Peter  ? 

Bitterly,  aye  most  bitterly,  do  we  regret  that  it  is  not  in 
our  power  to  apply  the  various  prophecies  to  the  sovereign 
Pontiff3,  from  Clement  IX.  (1667)  to  Pius  IX.,  as  we  f'^'l 
assured  that  one  well  versed  in  Italian  literature  could 
know  how  Canis  et  Coluber  applied  to  Leo  XII. ;  or  Aquila 
rapax,  to  bis  predecessor  Pius  XII. ;  or  Animjil  rapax,  to 
Benedict  XIV. 

One  who  boasts  that  he  *8  a  son  of  St.  J^irbaiL 

MoaU^ 
Fettioai  qf  our  Ladye  <^  SaUtU,  186& 


|!U^ 


i!  \ 


t 


THE   rROPHECY   OF  ST.   MAIACHY. 


S7 


11- 


AITRIBUTED  PROPHECY  OF  ST.  MALACIIY, 
ARCHBISHOP  OF  ARMAGH, 

RELATIVE  TO  THE  SOVEREIGN  PONTIFFS  FROM  1143  TO  TUB 

END  OF  THE  WORLD. 


I.  Ex  Castro  Tyhris — From  the  Castle  of  Tiber, 

CELESTINEII.— 1143. 

Celestine  was  a  Tuscan  by  birth — being  a  native  of 
Fort  S.  Felicita  near  the  Tiber,  now  called  Cita  S.  Gas- 
tello. 

II.  Inimicus  Expulsus — The  Enemy  Expelled, 

LUCIUS  II.~1144. 

Lucius  II.  was  called  chasse-enemi  from  his  crest — the 
Bear.  Lucius  II.  was  a  Regular  Canon  of  the  Monastery 
of  Sancta  Cruce,  and  the  Cross  puts  to  flight  the  devils, 
the  true  enemies  of  our  Lord. 

III.  Ex  magnitudine  montis — From  the  magnitude  of  the 

mountain. 

EUGENIUS  III.— 1145. 

Patria  Hetruscus  ex  oppido  Montis  Magni. 
Hence  he  was  called  by  our  prophet  "  Ex  magnitudine 
montis,"  from  the  magnitude  of  the  mountain. 


88 


THK    PEOPHKCY    OF 


i 


:u 


>«■■    :'i 


IV.  Ahbas  Suhuyrcmis—  flie  Suhhurran  Abbot. 

ANASTASIUS  IV.— 1153. 

Do  familia  Suburra. 

Anastasiiis  was  Abbot  cf  St.  Rufus.  Suburranus  is  \i8eci 
ill  reference  to  one  steering  a  great  vessel,  which  Anasttv 
sins  certainly  did  as  ^-overeign. 

V.  De  rure  albo — Of  the  Alhan  {lohite)  country, 

ADRIAN  1  v.— 1154. 

Adrian  IV.  was  the  only  Eno-lishman  that  has  ever  sue- 
eeeded  to  the  chair  of  St.  Peter !  he  was  born  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  St.  Ai'oai). 

I.  England  was  called  Albion  on  account  of  her  lohitt 
rockf,  and  white  cliffs. 

II.  Adrian  was  born  at  Malniesburv,  a  village  depend- 
Mit  on  St.  Albans. 

in.  He  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Alba. 

IV.  lie  was  sent  as  legate  to  Norway,  a  country  where 
there  is  alnio?.t  perpetual  snow. 

V.  The  holy  candor  and  innocence  of  his  soul,  ac- 
knowledged by  Eugenins  III,,  who  sent  him  to  the  North 
to  convert  souls  to  Jesus  Christ. 

VI.  Ex  tetro  car  cere. 
VICTOR  IV.     {Anti-P(.pe.)~\l5Q, 

Victor  fuit  Cardinalis  Sti.  Nicolai  in  Carceri^  Tul- 
liano: — 

The  words  Ex  tetro  carcere  prove  that  Victor  ascended 
the  chair  of  St.  Petar  schismatically,  and  that  he  had  not 
the  liglit  of  th^  successor  of  the  Vicar  appointed  by  Jesus 
Christ. 


■f 


ST.   MALACIiy. 


89 


VII.      Via  Transtyherina. 
PASCHAL  III.     {Anti-Pope)~nQQ. 
Guido  Cremensis  Cardinalis  St.  Mai'ia)  trans  lybaiii.i. 
Cardinal  of  St.  Mary's  beyond  tlie  Tyber. 

VIII.  De  Pannonid  Tusciw. 
CALLIXTFS  III.     (Anti-Fopc.)—UQ9. 
Ilungarius   natione   episccpiis   Cardinalis    Tusculanvis. 
The  two  nations,  Italy  and  Hungary,  are  ever  mingled  in 
an  evil  augury. 

IX.  Ex  Ansere  Custode — Of  the  Guardian  Goose. 

ALEXANDER  HL— 1175. 

Ex  familiS  Paperonan^. 

Our  readers  will  recollect,  tliat  when  Brennus  attempted 
to  sack  the  Capitol,  he  was  prevented  by  the  cackling  of 
Bome  geese;  the  family  of  Alexander  III.  descended  from 
one  of  those  who,  aroused  by  the  geese,  repulsed  Brennus. 

•   . 

X.  Lux  in  Ostlo — The  Light  in  Ostium. 
LUCIUS  III.— 1181. 

Cardinalis  Ostiensis. 

**  Luca  dedit  luccm  tibi  Luci  pontificatum, 
Ostium  papatum.    Verona  mori ; 
Tmo  Verona  dedit  tibi  Lucis  gaudia, 
Exitinm  curas  Ostii  Lncamorl." 

XI.  Sus  in  crebro. 

URBAN  TIL- 1185. 

Ex  famili^  Crebell^  qnge  suem  pro  armis  gerit.  He 
was  a  native  of  Milan-— from  Mediolunus,  so  called  in  con- 


!  I 


ft*' 


wi 


M 


00 


THE  PEOrHEOY  OF 


sequence  of  a  tradition  of  a  sow  covered  half  with  wool 
and  half  with  silk,  and  hence  Urban  was  called  sua  in 
crebro,  being  a  native  of  Milan. 

XII.  JSnsis  Laurentii — Sword  of  Laurence, 
GREGORY  VIII.— 1187. 
Cardinalis  Sti.  Laurentii  in  Lucina  cujus  insignia  Ensei 
falcati.    His  armorial  bearing  was  a  drawn  sword — was 
Cardinal  of  St.  Laurence. 

XIII.  De  ScholaExiit — Departed  from  School  (Schola). 
CLEMENT  III.— 1188. 
liomauus  Ex  domo  Scholari. 

XIV.  Ex  rure  Bovensi — From  the  Bovensian  territory, 

CELESTINE  IIL— 1191. 

Ex  familia  Bovensi.  He  was  descended  of  the  Boven- 
sian family. 

XV.   Comes  Signatus, 

INNOCENT  III.— 1198. 

1.  His  motto  was,  Fac  mecum  Domine  signum  in  bo- 
num. 

1.  He  was  Ex  familisi,  comitum  signiae. 

3.  The  dove,  which  on  his  being  elected  Sovereign 
Pontiff,  flew  over  his  head  and  perched  on  his  left  hand. 

XVI.   Canonicus  de  Latere — Canon  of  Later  an, 

HONORIUS  III.— 1198. 

Ex  familia  Sabelli^,  Canonicus  St,  Joannis  Lateranensis. 
He  Wfis  Canon  of  St^  John  Lateran^ 


ST.   MALACHY. 


91 


XVII.  Avis  Ostlensis—The  Ostian  Bird. 
GREGORY  IX.— 1227. 
The  arms  of  Gregory  IX.  were  an  Eagle.     He  was 
Cardinal  Bishop  of  Ostia,  in  the  Diaconate  of  St.  Lucy, 
situated  in  the  east  of  Italy  and  celebrated  for  its  eao-lee.. 

XVIII.  Leo  Sahinus—The  Sabinian  Lion^ 
CELESTINE  IV.— 1241. 

Mediolanensis  cujus  insignia  Leo:  Cardinalis Episcopusi 
Sabinus. 

His  arms  were  the  Lion:  he  was  Cardinal  Bishop  of : 
Sabina. 

XIX.   Comes  Laurentius — Count  of  Lawrence,. 
INNOCENT  IV.— 1243. 
Comes  Lauvanise  Cardinalis  S.  Laurentii  in  Lucina, 

1.  His  title  as  Count  of  Lauvania. 

2.  His  zeal  and  ardor  for  religion,  against  Frederick  II.,. 
was  similar  to  that  of  S.  Laurence  against  Valerian. 

3.  He  ordered  the  Cardinals  to  wear  a  red  hat,  not  only  • 
as  a  mark  of  their  dignity,  but  to  show  that  they  werV: 
over  ready  to  shed  their  blood  for  God. 

XX.  Slgnum  Ostiense—The  Standard  of  Ostia. 
ALEXANDER  IV.— 1254. 

De  Comitibus  Signise  Episcopus  Cardinalis  Ostiensis. 

1.  The  name  of  Signy. 

2.  The   title  of  his  Diocese. 

8,  His  proclaiming  a  crusade  against  Manfred  and  hi* 
adherent?,  who  persecuted  the  Church. 

10 


D2 


TilK   PROPHECY    OF 


3IXT.  HtcrmaUm  Campanm—The  Jerusalem  of  Cham 

paiffne. 
URBAN  IV.— 1261. 
Trccensis  in  Campania,  Patriarcha  Jerusalem. 
Urban  was  born  at  Troyes  (Champaigne)  ;  and  takinor 
'the  part  for  the  whole,  the  application  of  this  prophecy 
can  (despite  the  sneers  of  unbelievers)  be  applied  to  none 
other  but  him. 

XXII.  Draco  Depressus — The  draff  on  crushed. 
CLEMENT  IV.— 1265. 

Cujus  insignia  Aquila  unguibus  draconom  tenens. 

1.  His  chanire  of  life  after  his  wife's  death. 

2.  His  courage  against  the  English  who  had  rebelled 
against  their  King  and  the  Holy  See. 

3.  The  interdict  and  excommunication  he  fulminated 
against  those  who,  instead  of  obeying  like  angels,  had 
risen  against  him  like  dragons  from  hell. 

4.  liis  great  moderation  in  not  selecting  any  of  his 
own  family  for  ecclesiastical  preferment. 

XXIII.  Anguinus  Vlr. 
GREGORY  X.— 1271. 

Ex  familia  vice-Comitum  quaj  anguem  pro  i.usigni  gerit. 
He  was  descended  from  a  noble  fiimily  who  bore  the 
serpent  on  their  standard. 

XXIV.   Concionaior  Gallus. 
INNOCENT  v.— 1276. 
Ex  ordine  Predicatorum.     Innocent  V.  was  a  French- 
man, and  of  the  Order  of  Preachers. 


ST.    MALACHY. 


93 


XXV.     Bonus  Comes. 

ADRIAN  v.— 1276. 

Ou  bonus  familia  Flescid  ex  comitibus  Lauvaniie. 

Ilis  goodness  of  character  was  depicted  by  his  saying-, 
ilijjt  he  would  wish  his  enemy  no  greater  liarm  than  to 
become  Pope. 

XXVI.  Piscator  Thuscus — The  Tuscan  Fisher. 

JOHN  XXL— 1274. 

Antea  Johannes  Petrus  Episcopus  Carvlinalis  Tuscuhi- 
nus. 

John  was  a  good  Physician,  and  a  native  of  Portugal. 
Tlie  appellative  Piscator  from  his  name  Peter  and  from 
his  See. 

XXVII.  Rosa  Composita — The  Hose  Composite. 

NICHOLAS  HI.— 1277. 

Quie  rosam  in  insigni  gerit  dictus  composita. 

This  Pontiff  was  the  first  of  his  family  (Orsini)  \\hu 
changed  the  family  crest,  a  berrr,  to  a  rose,  in  consequence 
of  one  of  his  cousins  having  been  delivered  of  an  abortion 
similar  in  appearance  to  a  bear.  ^ 

XXVIII.  Exteloneo  Litiacei  Martini. 

MARTIN  IV.— 1281. 

Cujus  insignia  lilia,  Canonicus  ct  Thesaurarius  S.  Mar 
tini  Turonensis. 

The  term  Liliacei  means  not  so  much  h^s  crest,  as  to 
show  that  the  Pontift*  to  whom  it  refers  mubt  be  Martin 
IV.,  who  was  the  Treasurer  of  S.  Martin  of  Tours ;  the 


04: 


TFIE   PROPIIKCT   OF 


fleur-de-lys  is  r  well-known  emblem  of  the  Blessed  Vitffin 
in  France. 

XXIX.  Ex  Hosd  Leonind. 

HONORIUS  IV.— 1285. 
Ex  faniili^  Sabella  cujus  insignia  rosa  a  lenibus  gestatn. 

XXX.  Picus  inter  JSscas, 

NICHOLAS  IV.— 1288. 
Picenns  patii^  Esculanus. 

1.  The  inhabitants  of  Ascoli  are  called  Pici  and  indi- 
vidually Picus,  because,  when  their  ancestor  went  to  that 
country,  a  little  bii-d,  called  Picus  Martius,  perched  on  his 
standard  :  lience  the  name  Piceni. 

2.  Esca  for  Esculuin  (Ascoli)  the  native  city  of  Nicho- 
las  IV. 

XXXI.  JKr  ei'emo  celsus. 

CELESTINE  v.— 1294. 
Vocatus  Peti'us  de  Morino  Eremita. 

XXXII.  Ex  midartim  benedictione. 
BONIFACE  VIII.— 1294. 

V^ocatus  prius  Benedictus  Cetanus  cujus  insignia  undge. 
From  Gaeta,  whence  their  crest.* 

*  As  tliis  Pope  lias  been, severely  censured  by  Protestant  wrIterH, 
w«  are  induced  to  state  a  fact  mentioned  by  Spondanus,  that  Wia 
l>ody  was  found  intact  and  uncorrupted,  such  as  his  nose  and  lips,  in 
I60o,  about  302  years  after  his  death. 


BT.   MALACHY. 


95 


JCXXTIT.   Concionator  Patcrcus — The  Orator  of  Patera, 

BENEDICT  X.— 1303. 

Qui  Vocabatur  Nicholaus  oidinis  Predicatoium. 
J'ateiiiis,  from  his  native  city  Patara. 

XXXIV,  De  Fessis  Aquitaniis. 

CLEMENT  v.— 1305. 
Natiouo  Aquitanic'us  cujus  insignia  fisr.se  crant. 

XXXV.  De  Sutore  Osseo — Of  the  Shoemaker  of  Ossea. 

JOHN  XXII.— 1316. 

Ex  famililL  Ossa.Sutoiis  filius. 

John  was  the  son  of  one  Arnauld,  a  cobbler  (sutor),  and 
formed  one  of  the  suite  of  Pierre  Fcrrier,  Archbishop  of 
Aries. 

XXXVI.    Corvus  Schismalicm — The  Schismatic  Raven. 

NICHOLAS  V.     {Anti-Poj)e.)— 1328. 
Petrus  de  Corbavio   contra  Joanncm  XX.  Antipapa 
Minorita.  , 

XXXVII.  Frigidus  Abbas — Ths  Frigidian  Abbot. 

"^   BEK-KDICT  XII.— 1334. 

Abbas  Monasterii  Fontis  Frigidi.  Abbot  of  the  raon- 
Rstcry  of  Fontis  Frigidi. 

XXXVIII.  De  Eosd  Atrebatensu 

CLEMENT  VL— 1342. 

Episcopus  Atrebatensis  cujus  insignia  Rosa?. 

lie  was  born  at  Hosiers,  and  was  Bishop  of  Arras. 

0* 


96 


THE  PBOPHKCY   OF 


I 


XXXIX.  Be  Montibuss  Paminachu, 
INNOCENT  VI.~1352. 

Oardinalis  SS.  Joannis  et  Pauli  tituli  Panunacliii  cujin 
insignia  monies. 

XL.  Gallus  Vice  Comes — The  Gallic  Viscount, 

URBAN  v.— 1362. 

Nuncius  Apostoliciis  ad  Vices-Comites  Mediolanensis. 

Urban  V.  was  a  Frenchman  (Gallus),  and  bad  a  right 

to  the  title  of  Viscount,  on  account  of  his  being  one  of  tlie 

Legation  to  Milan. 

XLL  JV^ovus  de  Virglne  Forte, 

GREGORY  XL— 1370. 

Qui  vocabatur  Petrus  Belfontis  Cardinalis  stoe  Mari« 
novaj. 

This  motto,  by  the  figure  called  Metalepsis,  should  be 
novd.  de  virgine  fortis — whence  nov&  would  apply  to  the 
title,  and  fortis  to  his  name. 

XLII.  De  Cruce  Apostolicd, 
CLEMENT  VIL     {Anti-Fope,)^lSl8, 
Qui  fuit  Presbyter  Cardinalis  SS.  XIL  Apostolorum, 
eujus  insignia  Crux. 

XLIII.  Zuna  Cosmedina, 

BENEDICT  XIIL    (Anti-Pope.)-^l394. 

Antea  Petrus  de  Lun4  Cardinalis  Stae  Maria)  in  Cos- 
•medino. 


ST.   MALACHT. 


97 


1.  By  liis  prenonien  de  Luna. 

2.  By  his  arms. 

3.  By  the  name  of  the  city,  whence  his  title  de  Luna. 

4.  By  the  fickleness  of  his  disposition,  at  one  time  de« 
siiing,  and  at  another  opposing  the  union  of  the  Churcli. 

XLIV.  Schisma  Barchinoniciim. 
CLEMENT  VIIL     (Anti'Pope.)—l^2A, 
Qui  fuit  Canonicus  Barchinonensis. 

XLV.  Be  Infirnce  Prceffnanti, 
URBAN  VL— 1378. 

Neapolitanus  Praegnanus  natus  in  loco  qui  dicitur  In- 
fernus. 

Urban  was  moreover  Archbishop  of  Cuenza,  Acheron- 
tine,  which  is  also  Infernus,  according  to  the  Poets. 

XLVL    Cubus  de  mtxiione. 
BENEDICT  IX.~-1389. 

Ex  famili^  Tonacall^  a  genu^  Ligurnc  cujus  insignia 
cubi. 

XLVIL  De  Meliore  Sidere. 

INNOCENT  VIII.  — 1404. 

Vocatus  Cosmatus  de  Melioratis  cujus  insignia  sidus. 

XLV  III.    Nauta  de  Ponte  Mgro — The  Navigator   of 

Ponie  Nigro, 

rr: -^GREGORY  XIL— 1406. 

Venatus,  Commendatarius  Ecclesiie  Nigri  Pontis. 


9S 


THE   PROPHECY   OF 


\  ('(»  was  a  Venetian  l)y  birth,  and  a  clignitnry  of  the 
cljiiivh  of  Nigropont. 

XLIX.  Flajellum  Soils — Lash  of  the  Sun, 
ALEXANDER  V.— 1400. 

Grsecus;  Archiepiscopus  Mcdiolanensis  ciijns  insignia 
sol. 

lie  was  a  Greek ;  was  Archbishop  of  Milan  ;  his  crest 
was  the  sun. 

L.  Cervus  Syrencn. 

JOHN  XXIL— 1410. 

Diaconus  Cardiuah's  S.  Eiistachii  qui  cum  cervo  depin- 
gitur  BononioB  legatus  Neapolitanus. 

Naples  was  originally  called  Parthenope,  from  a  tra- 
dition that  Parthenope,  one  of  the  Syrens,  \/as  buried  at 
Naples. 

LI.   Corona  Veli  Aureu 

MARTIN  v.— 1417. 

Ex  familia  Column^,  Diaconus  Cardinal  is  S.  Georgii  ad 
velum  aureum. 

LII. — Lttjm  Ccelestma. 

EUGENIUS  IV.— 1431. 

Canonicus  antea  regularis  Cselestinus  et  episcopus 
Senecsis. 

The  Amice  wo^-n  by  the  Cardinals  was  formerly  made 
of  the  wolfs  skin,  as  a  mark  of  humility.  ;  ^  mi4i  r. 


pi 

lift.    :< 


ST.    MALAC'IIT. 


99 


LIII.  Amator  Cruets. 
FEMX  V.    (Anil- Pope)— U^9, 

Qui  Vocabatur  Ainedeus  dux  Sabaudiae  cnjns  iiisi-i.ia 
Crux. 

The  signification  of  Amedeus  is  a  lover  of  God. 

LIV.  De  modicitate  Lunce. 

NICHOLAS  v.— 1447. 
Lunensis  de  SarrauA. 

LV.  Bos  pascens — The  Ox  ff razing. 

CALIXTUS  III.— 1455. 
Hispanus  cujus  insignia  Bos  pascens.     Calixtus  III.  was 
a  Spaniard  by  birth  :  an  Ox  grazing  was  his  crest. 

LVI.  De  Cuprd  et  Albergo. 

PIUS  II.— 1458. 

Sinensis  qui  fuit  a  Secretes  Cardinali  Cupranico  et  Al- 
bergato. 

LVir.  Be  Cervo  et  Leone — Of  the  Stag  and  Lion. 

PAUL  II.— 1461. 

Venetus  Qui  fuit  Comraendatarius  Cervinensis  et  Cardi- 
nalis  tituti  St.  Marci. 
St.  Mark  is  represented  by  the  lion. 

LVIII.  Piscator  Minor  ta—The  Minorite  Fisherman. 

SIXTUS  IV.— 1471. 

Piscatoris  filius  Francis  canus.     Sixtus  IV.  was  the  sou 
ot*  a  fisherman. 


100 


TIIK   PUOrilKCY    OF 


LIX.  Precursor  Sicillce — The  Precursor  oj  S'lc'ih/. 

INNOCENT  VIII.— 1484. 
Qui  Vocabatur  Joannis  Baptista,  et  vixit  in  Curia  Al 
fonsi,  Regis  Sicilise. 

1.  The  Precursor  of  the  Saviour  was  called  John  thu 
liaptist,  aiul  so  was  this  Pontiff. 

2.  St.  John  was  called  the  angel  of  the  Lord  (Malach. 
iii.  1),  and  all  who  have  spoken  of  Innocent  VIII.  say  that 
he  was  as  beautiful  as  an  angel. 

3.  St.  John  was  remarkable  for  his  innocence,  and  this 
l*ontiff  took  as  his  motto,  the  text,  '''•Ego  autem  in  iuno- 
centia  mea  ingressus  sum"  to  which  we  may  Jidd  tliat  hv 
has  been  unanimously  praised  by  all  historians  +'»r  the  di- 
vine innocence  of  his  morals  and  piety. 

How  was  he  precursor  Sicilies  since  he  was  of  Genoa  ? 
because  he  was  in  the  service  of  Alfonso,  kinjr  of  Sicilv. 

LX.  Bos  Albanus  in  Porta. 

ALEXANDER  VL— 1492. 
Episcopus  Cardinalis  Albanus  et  Porticensis. 
The  Ox  was  in  the  arms  of  Borgia,  given  by  Calixtus 
III.  to  the  Papal  see. 

LXI.    De  Parvo  nomine, 
PIUS  III.— 1503. 
Scenensis  de  familia  Piccolomene^. 

LXII.  Fructus  Jovis  jurahit, 
JULIUS  11.-1503. 
Ligur  cujus  insignia  Quercus,  Jovis  arbor. 

"Sicubi  magna  Jovis  ar,Ti:^uo  robore  quercus. 


Inwntes  tendat  ^amo^. ' 


Virgil,  Georg.  III. 


*( 


ST.    MALACriY.  10\ 

LXIII.  De  Cratlculd  Politiand. 
LEO  X.— 1513. 

Filiu8  Laurentii  Medices  ct  scholaria  Angli  Politi.-iiii. 

LXIV.  Leo  Florentice—The  Lion  of  Florence.      * 
ADRIAN  VI.--1522. 

Florentii  filiiis  cnjus  insignia  Leo, 
His  crest  was  the  Lion. 

LXV.  Flos  Pilei  Aegri. 
CLEMENT  VIL— 1523. 

Florentius  de  domo  Medicea  cujus  insignia  flos  ot  lilia. 

LXVL  ITyacinthus  Medlcomm—The  Ilf/acmth  of  Th- 

sicians. 

PAULIlL-1534. 

•     Farnesius  qui  lilia  pro  insignibus  gestat,  et  f'.rc  Can!;, 
nails  St.  Cosmas  et  Damian. 

The  purple  hyacinth,  which  liad  a  place  in  the  uyiuh  of 
this  Pontiff,  is  used  for  medical  purposes ;  the  martyrs 
SS.  Cosmas  and  Damianus  were  physicians,  hence  the  np- 
plication  of  the  prophecy  is  evident.  He  was  Cardinal  of 
SS  C^.^mas  an  !  Damian. 

LXVH.  I>c  Corond  montand — Of  the  mountain  crown 

JULIUS  HI.— 1550. 

Antea  Vocatus  Joannes  Maria  de  Monte. 
His  arms  were  laurel  crowns  and  mountains. 


102 


THK   PROPHECY   OF 


Hr!- 


'•'4 


LXVIII.  Frumenium  fioccidum. 
MACELLUS  J.— 1555. 

Cnjus  insignia  serves  et  fmraentnin  ideo  floccidurn  qiiod 
pun  CO  tempore  vex  est  in  papatu. 

LXIX.  Be  Fides  Petri. 

PAUL  IV.— 1555. 

Antea  Vocatus  Joannes  Petrus  CarafFe. 

1.  Tlie  name  Caraffe  is  derived  from  cava  fides^  in  con- 
sequence of  those  words  having  been  addressed  by  an 
Emperor  to  one  of  the  house  of  Caraffe,  wh,o  had  shed  his 
blood  to  save  his  Imperial  master's  Hfe. 

2.  The  founder  of  a  new  order  of  regular  clerks,  cjijied 
Theatines. 


LXX.     ^Fsculapi'is  pkarmacum — The   ^scidapius   of 

dochrs. 

PIUS  IV.— 1550. 

Antea  Vocatus  Joannis  Angelus  Medices. 

1.  His  family. 

2.  His  father  was  Be:nardine  de  Medici. 

3.  His  having  studied  medicine  while  youno*. 

4.  His  being  introduced  to  the  Papal  Court  by  one  of 
llic  Medici. 

5.  His  election  to  the  Pontificate  by  a  sign  of  a  dove 
ptMching  at  the  door  of  his  cell. 

'I'he  Church,  the  true  temple  of  ^sculapius,  has  ob- 
taiiicd  no  little  profit  from  his  tcachino-. 


ST.    MALACIIY.  103 

LX  aI.  Angelus  Nemorosus — Avgel  of  the  groves, 
PIUS  v.— 15CG. 
Mictliael  Vocatus  natus  in  oppido  Boschi. 
AugeJ,  from  his  name,  Michael. 
Nemot'osus^  from  Boschi,  his  biitliphice. 

LXXII.  Medicum  Cormspilarum, 
GREGORY  XIIL— 1572. 
Oujus  insignia  medicus  Daco  Cardinalis  creatus  a  Piu 
IV.  qui  pila  in  armis  gestabat. 

LXXIII.  Axis  hi  medietate  signi, 

SIXTHS  v.— 1583. 

Qui  axem  in  medio  Leonis  in  armis  irestat. 

Axis,  the  northern  star. 

In  medietate  signi,  his  crest  the  Lion,  one  of  the  1*J 
signs  of  the  Zodiac;  ho  made  ihe  kings  of  both  hemi 
spheres  tremble. 

LXXIY.  De  Rare  cosli. 
aRBAX    VII.  — 1590. 

Qui  luit  Archiepiscopus  Rossanensis  in  Calabria,  ubi 
njanna  collijritur. 

LXXV.  JDe  antiqui/ate  Urhis — Of  ihe  Anitquity  of  the 

City. 

GREGORY  XIV.— 1500. 
Seiiatores  Mediolanenses  filins. 
Milan  was  built  359  A. CD.,  was  converted  17  A.D.; 

'l'^  it  maV  well  and  *rnlv  Iw  o.nWoA   nntlmrn  A.n^non+'i 

11 


i()4 


THE  PROPHfXY   OP 


11  ■» 


LXXVI.  Pia  ci  vitas  in  hello. 
INNOCENT  IX.— 1591. 
R  IJononia  Etruiije  onmdus  patriarclia  Jerusalem,  sul 
(Jregorio  XIII. 

Rome  was  engaged  in  the  league  against  Ilonrv  l\\ 
and  therefore  pia  civitas  in  bello. 
Jerusalem  may  be  truly  called  pia. 
Benenan,  otherwise  Bena  colonia. 

LXXVII.  Crux  Romulce— The  Cross  of  Roimihis. 

CLEMENT  VIIL— 1592. 
Cujus  insignia  tenia  bipennata  crucem  Papatum  quo 
dummodo  imitantur. 

The  Adobrandini  (of  which  family  he  was  a  membe)) 
were  descended  from  Romulus. 

LXXVIII.   Undosus  Vir. 
LEO  XL— 1605. 
Medicaius  cujus  eminentia  insignia  lilia  sphteroe  ceruiloeae 
(Velut  mare)  immersa. 

LXXIX.  Gem  Perversa — The  obstinate  race. 
PAUL  v.— 1605. 

Cujus  insignia  Draco  et  Aquila. 

1.  The  eaffle  is  most  dano-erous  on  account  of  its  dread- 
ful  enmity  to  other  birds. 

The  DraiTon,  inasmuch  as  it  infects  the  air  with  a  fetid 
fmell. 

2.  The  war  between  the  Ghibelines  and  Guelphs,  whose 
crests  were  the  Drao-on  oi  1  the  E«(rle, 


ST.    MALACHY. 


105 


LXXX.  In  Tribulatione  Pacts. 

GREGORY  XV.— 1621. 

Qui  sicuti  puniccci  caput  tiibus  linnesics  sou  viitis  au- 
reis  oblique  dispositis  vittendit. 

The  quarrels  between  Charles  Emmanuel  I.  Duke  of 
Savoy,  Ferdinand  Duke  of  Milan,  and  Pope  Paul  V., 
Bending  Gregory  to  Piedmont  and  Lombardy,  to  conl'er 
with  the  ambassadors  of  France  and  Spain  respecting 
})eace,  and,  having  discharged  his  mission,  he  was  elected 
Cardinal. 

LXXXT.  Lilium  et  Rosa — The  Lily  and  Host. 
URBAN  VIII.— 1623. 

Cujus  insignia  Apes  currse  in  scnto  ca?rulceo. 

On  account  of  the  dispensation  he  gianted  for  the  mar- 
riage of  Henrietta  of  France  (the  lily)  with  Charles  of 
England  (the  rose). 

LXXXII.  Jucunditas  Crucis, 
INNOCENT  X.— 1624. 
Electus  summus  Pontifex  ipso  die  exaltationis  sauctje 
Cruci. 

LXXXIIt.  Montium  Custos — The  Guardian  of  Moun- 
tains. 
ALEXANDER  VIL— 1655. 

Qui  stellam  montibus  irradiantur  et  prsedominantem  in 
armis  sex  gestat. 


Hei*e  terminates  the  interpretation  of  the  Rev.  Pere 
Michel  Grorgeu,  O.  C.  C,  of  the  Monastery  of  our  Lady  of 
Mciuuf  Carmel,  at  Dieppe,  published  in  1659. 


106 


rROPilKCY    OF   ST.    MALACIIY. 


M( 


The  remainder  of  the  prophecy  is  as  follows  : — 
LXXXIV.  Sydus  Olorum.     CLEMENT  IX.,  1607. 
LXXXV.  I)e  Flumine  Magno.    CLEMENT  X.,  1070. 
LXXXVL  Bellua  insatiaUlis.    INNOCEN 1'  X  I..  1  •!:♦,. 
LXXXVIL  Penitentla  fjloriosa,  ALEXANDER  \* II I., 
1689.  [lOlM. 

LXXXVIIL  Rostrum  in  portu.     INNOCENT  Xli., 
LXXXIX.  Flores  circumedatl    CLEMENT  XL,  1  700. 
XC.  De  Bona  reUgione.     INNOCENT  XIII.,  17'21. 
XCL  Miles  in  bello.     BENEDICT  XIIL,  1724. 
XCII.   Columna  excelsa,     CLEMENT  XII.,  1730. 
XCIII.  Animal  rurali.     BENEDICT  XIV.,  1740. 
XCIV.  Rosa  Umhrim.     CLEMENT  XIIL,  1758. 
XCV.   Ursus  VeJox.     CLEMENT  XIV.,  1769. 
XCVI.  Peregrinus  Apostolus.     PIUS  VL,  1779. 
XCVII.  Aquila  Rapax.     PIUS  VIL,  1800. 
XCVIII.   Cants  et  coluber.     LEO  XII.,  1823. 
XCIX.    Vir  Religiosus.     PIUS  VIIL,  1829. 
C.  De  Balneis  Etruri(t.     GREGORY  XVI.,  1833. 
CI.   Crux  de  Cruce,     PIUS  IX.,  1846. 

TO    BE    FULFILLED. 

CII.  Lumen  in  calo.  CVII.  Pastor  et  nauta. 


cm.  Signus  ardens. 
CIV.  Religio  depopulata. 
CV.  Fides  intrepida. 
OVI.  Pastor  angel  us. 


CVIII.  Flosjlorum. 
CIX.  De  medietate  Lurur, 
ex.  De  labore  solis, 
CXI.   G  lor  ice  Olivce, 

In  persecutione  Extrema  Sanctse  Romana)  Ev'('le«iise 
sedebit  Petrus  Roinamis  qui  pnscet  oves  in  multis  tiltuLi- 
tionibus,  quibiis  transactis,  certiis  septi  coliis  dirurtur  et 
pic  ex  treniendis  predicabit  popukim  siinm. 


107 


It  is  considered  necessary  to  inform  our  readers  tlial 
we  close  our   present  collection  of  the  writings  of  ouif 
sainted   seers  with  the  prophecy   of  St.  Malachy.     W«? 
must,  however,  take  leave  to  remark,  that  all  the  prophe- 
cies written  by  our  Saints  are  not  contained  in  the  presofit 
edition,  though  we  have  contrived  to  give  the  most  re- 
markable ones.     Besides  St.  Patrick  and  St.  Bridijet,  tlio 
following  Saints  are  said  to  have  written  prophecies,  viz. : 
St.  Cailin,  first  Bishop  of  DoNvn,  who  flourished  about  A. 
D.  500.     St.  Cairneach,  a  Priest,  who  flourished  about 
535.     St.  larlach,  Archbishop  of  Tuam,  in  538,  and  seq. 
Beg  Mac  De,  the  prophet,  wdio  died  in  551,  according  to 
Tighernach.     St.  Baoithin,  successor  to  St.  Columbkille  in 
the  Abbey  of  lly,  wdio  died  on  the  9th  January,  559 
Eochadh  Eicceas,  commonly  called  Dalian  Forguil,  wlio 
flourished   about   597.      St.   Bracean   of  Ardbracean    in 
Meath,  who  flourished  about  650.     St.  Fursa,  or  Fursey, 
who  died  16th  January,  653.     St.  Moling  of  Teach-mo- 
ling  (Timolin)  county  of  Kildare,  who  died  in  697,  and 
St.Sanihtand,  virgin,  who  died  in  734.     It  is  to  be  re- 
gretted that  small  portions  only  of  the  prophecies  of  the 
above  Saints  have  come  as  yet  to  hand,  and  that  even 
these  fragments  are  found  copied  in  language  and  orthjg- 
rapliy  of  so  low  and  inferior  a  standard  that  it  would  be 
absurd  to  think  of  publishing  them  before  genuine  copies 
can  be  procured.     There  are  many  fragments  of  those 
prophecies  found  in  the  works  of  Colgan  and  others,  but, 
inost  probably,  the  only  place  where  genuine  copies  can 
be  had  is  in  the  libraries  of  the  continent.     Though  the 
greater  portion  of  those  prophecies  be  uninteresting  to 
the  majority  of  the  people,  they  are,  notwithstanding,  val- 
uable, and  are  worth  the  pains  of  collectini»-  them,  as  being 
ancient  documents  that  should  not  be  suffered  to  fall  into 
decav  and  final  destruction. 

11* 


108 


il '! 


IH 


Having  finished  the  prophecies  of  the  Irish  SainUs,  wc 
beg  to  introduce  another  species  of  prophetical  documents, 
which,  although  they  have  nc"^  been  written  by  persons 
remarkable  for  the  sanctity  of  their  lives,  or  even  ecclesi- 
astics, still  deserve  to  be  rescued  from  oblivion,  and  may 
have  some  claim  to  respect  and  ci-edence.  • 

It  is  clear  that  those  prophecies  have  been  originally 
selected  from  the  works  of  several  prophets,  as  we  lind  in 
them  some  few  incidents  lecorded  in  the  writings  of  St. 
Columbkille  and  other  Saints,  whose  works  we  publish. 
Even  in  the  absence  of  this  evidence,  it  is  clear  they  arc 
cx)mposed  of  extracts  from  the  works  of  various  authoi's, 
which,  in  fact,  the  diversity  of  metre  will  show  beyond 
contradiction.  It  requires  no  logical  argument  to  prove 
that  they  are  none  of  the  compositions  of  pythonists  or 
wandering  impostors,  and,  therefore,  deserve  some  public 
attention.  The  attention  and  credence  to  which  they  are 
entitled  should,  however,  be  given  with  caution  under  a 
certain  dejoree  of  limitation,  because  they  do  not  profess, 
as  we  find  them  just  now  to  have  been  written  not  by 
Saints,  but  by  bards,  or  other  learned  persons  who  com- 
piled them,  and  reduced  them  to  the  level  of  the  language 
then  spoken  by  the  people.  Though  we  can,  by  no  nieans, 
approve  of  this  course,  as  it  is  localized  less  or  more,  still 
the  predictions  should  not  be  rejected  for  the  reasons  al- 
ready adduced,  but  the  whole  should  be  received  with 
much  caution,  and  compared  with,  not  only  the  docu- 
ments we  now  publish,  but  with  the  traditions  prevalent 
among  the  people,  which  are,  for  the  greater  part,  genuine. 
Hence  we  venture  to  give  them  to  our  readers. 


THE  niEDICTIONS  OF  DONALL  CAM. 

DoMiiNAL  Cam,  the  crooked,  to  whom  the  followiiii^  l»io. 
photic  lines  are  generally  ascribed,  lived  about  ninety  years 
ago  :  he  was  an  ubiquitarian,  or  a  soit  of  mysterious  wan- 
dei'er,  jibout  whom  no  person  knew  any  thing,  except  that 
he  was  a  '' great  jirophecTf-man,'^  and  used,  on  the  eve  of 
the  American  War  of  Independence  to  deliver  his  prophecy 
with  an  earnestness  that  astonished  his  hearers.  His  fa- 
\\)rite  haunt  was  near  Balina,  Tyrawly,  though  he  wns 
known  to  most  i>eople  in  every  part  of  Ireland.  Donall 
was  genei-ally  supposed  to  be  inspired,  and  his  predictions 
were  believed  to  liave  been  all  his  own  making,  but  tliis 
evidently  is  a  mistake,  because  the  present  copy  has  been 
made  from  a  raannsciipt  which  must  be  much  older  than 
his  time,  and  therefore  a  compilation  made  from  the 
prophecies  of  some  of  our  saints,  by  some  other  wiiter, 
and  not  by  Donall.  The  more  modern  copies  are  ail 
styled  the  "  Predictions  of  Donall  Cam,"  but  this  one  al- 
luded has  no  title,  evidence  sufficient,  in  the  absence  of 
even  a  date,  that  it  was  written  long  before  Donall  «'x- 
isted. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  real  author's  name  li.ts 
not  been  as  yet  discovered.  It  is  possible  he  was  one  of 
our  modern  bards,  who  compiled  it  from  older  documents 
now  lost  or  unknown.  Traces  of  some  frairinents  of  lost 
Prophecy  attributed  to  some  of  our  saints  are  found ^n  the 
piece,  and,  as  it  appears  not  to  have  been  a  pythonic  com- 
position, it  is  therefore  well  worth  being  preserved.    There 


110 


THE  rROPllKOV   op- 


is  another  copy  of  this  prophecy  in  the  Royal  Irish  Acade 
my  ;  it  may  be  seen   in  the  Hudson  collection  of  Irish 


In  the  year*  whose  date  shall  be  thi'ee  sevens, 

A  disturbance  shall  arise  at  a  distance,!  of  three  calls  from 
Europe ; 

This  trouble  will  never  have  an  end, 

Until  Christendom^;  will  embrace  a  similar  course  of  rec- 
titude. 

From  the  time  two  Galls§  (strangers)  will  fight, 

For  the  supremacy  of  a  country  in  the  new  division  of  the 

earth  ; 
A  man  whose  sway  was  potent  shall  become  powerless, 
And  misfortunes  in  succession  shall  follow  him. 

Through  blind  madness  they  will  enact  laws,||  [sion  : 

With  the  intention  of  forcing  subjects  into  further  submis- 

*  Ag  data^  d:c.  The  year  1777.  Though  the  American  war  of  in- 
dependence commenced  before  this  date,  the  groundwork  of  free- 
dom was  not  firmly  laid  until  this  year. 

t  Bad  thri  »gairt.  Tliis  was  a  favorite  form  of  expression  to  denote 
a  far  distance  ;  the  old  bards  frequently  used  it.    Ex. : 

"  At  the  distance  of  a  call  from  this  place  dwells  the  love  of  my  hejirt, 
And  it  is  certain  I  never  shall  see  her  again."  Old  Song. 

X  Go  m-leid/i,  &o.  It  is  not  meant  the  American  war  should  not 
havo  an  end  before  Christendom  would  gain  freedom,  but  only  th  «t 
the  principles  which  gave  rise  to  that  war  should  still  live. 

§  The  two  Galls  or  strangers  here  meant,  are  evidently  the  English 
and  American  colonists.  The  war  of  the  two  Galls  is  a  topic  of  irucl? 
interest  with  propliecy-mongers. 

I  Tiiese  were  the  oppressive  laws  enacted  by  the  English  to  "rush 
tlio  rise  of  the  American  ('olonit;4;s,  and  against  which  the  Bostouian* 
Uiade  a  noble  resistance. 


.J8 


IX)NALL  CAM. 


Ill 


This  proceeding  \m11  cause  njiame  to  be  kindled, 
Which  will  be  fanned  by  the  enemy  in  tlie  vicinity. 

This  bhize  will  not  pass  jicross  tlio  ocean, 
Until  a  potent  King  aflaicted  with  madness*  shall  be  sub- 
dued ; 

Tlie  fi-aud  of  barter  will  characterize  the  str.iggle  in  tliose 
countries, 

And  penury  created  by  monopoly  sludl  be  tlie  substance  of 
that  law. 

The  Biscayansf  will  descend  the  Alps, 
In  a  body  that  will  subdue  all  the  northern  tribes ; 
They  will  liberate  countries  from  slavery  and  suffering. 
And  will  be  observant  of  peace  till  their  forces  be  au(y. 
men  ted. 

A  small  shootj:  will  spring  up  from  the  true  germ 

Of  a  wood  that  has  been  withering  down  to  a  worthless 

shrubbery, 
It  will  depose  Kings  from  their  usurped  dignities, 
And  countries  shall  enjoy  freedom  under  its  sway. 

When  nations  shall  be  ^d  to  the  level  of  republics,§ 

And  monarchs  deposed  fl         ,.  ur  usurped  dignities  ; 

*  This  king  was  George  HI.  Whether  liis  political  madness  in  op- 
pressing the  Americans,  or  his  subsequent  insanity  is  meant,  we  de- 
cline to  decide. 

t  This  8t«nza  alludes  to  the  broils  which  succeeded  the  American 
i*'ar,  on  the  continent  of  Europe. 

X  The  personage  here  indicated  as  a  small  hramhle  appears  to  have 
been  Napoleon  I.,  but  prophecy-men  assert  he  has  not  made  his  ap- 
pearance as  yet. 

S  Whether  or  not  this  sta-iza  refers  to  the  commonwealth  estab- 


112 


riiOPIIECY   OF    DONALL   CAM. 


IX'struction  shall  come  upon  the  sa^es  of  the  countJ  ics  m 
afflicted,  , 

And  they  who  offer  sacrifice  to  God  shall  be  exiled  for  a 
time. 

Tiie  lion*  will  extend  his  limbs  far  beyond  liis  crown, 
And  will  bestow  gold  in  abundance  to  purchase  victory 

in  battle ; 
III  great  Germany,  France  will  spill  out  her  power, 
And  affliction  shall  be  the  portion  of  every  race  that  per- 
petrates injustice. 

The  people  of  Fodhla  (Ireland)  shall  suffer  grievously  in 

consequence  of  their  connections, 
Throughout  Europe  they  shall  be  oppressed  by  foreigners ; 

lished  in  France  by  the  revolution  of  1793,  it  is  difficult  to  any.  It 
i3  well  known  that  there  still  is  a  sort  of  hankering  after  republican- 
ism all  over  the  Continent  of  Europe,  though  the  difficulty  of  shap- 
ing the  debris  of  a  inonarchlcul  government  into  a  republican  form, 
so  as  to  work  successfully  for  any  length  of  time,  is  apparent.  Since 
republican  revolutionists  are,  for  the  most  part,  lukewarm  Christians 
who  have  neither  character  nor  property  to  lose  by  a  change,  it  need? 
not  bo  wondered  that  the  priests  of  the  Church  and  all  good  men 
would  suffer,  under  the  rule  of  lawless  plunderers  and  desperadoes. 
*  Spreadhfadh  an  leomhan,  idc.  Tlie  lion  is  emblematical  of  Eng- 
lL'.nd,  the  thistle  of  Scotland,  and  the  harp  of  Ireland.  The  follow- 
ing is  an  old  saying — vide  Mac  Aulife's  Prophecy: — 

"When  the  lion  shall  lose  his  strength, 
And  the  speckled  thistle  its  power ; 
The  harp  will  sound  sweetly, 
Between  the  eighth  and  ninth  hour." 

The  remainder  of  the  stanza  clearly  and  truly  depicts  the  fictitious 
jiower  acquired  by  England  through  the  agency  of  her  wealth— o 
power  and  extent  of  dominion  that  must  ever  be  proportionate  with 
her  means  of  purchasing  both, 


l'K(nMIKCY A    FUAGMKXT. 


113 


But  when  Konie*  {ind  the  countries  adjacent  shall  !)»'  sub- 
clued, 

Irolani.'  the  Young,  after  thai,  shall  remain  in  sorrow  onlv 
one  year. 


-♦♦■•- 


PROPHECY— A  FRAGMENT. 

Some  supjwse  the  following  fragment  to  have  been  com- 
posed by  St.  Columbkille,  others  attribute  it  to  St.  Kiaran. 

A  gentilef  race  will  come  across  the  sea, 
That  will  mingle  with  the  people  of  Eire ; 
They  will  place  one  Abbotj  in  every  abbey, 
And  will  impose  a  King  over  Eire. 

*  Acht  truth  chuirind  an  Roimh,  dc.  The  court  of  Eomc  lias  lonu' 
been  made  the  butt  for  republican  darts ;  no  wonder,  then,  that  our 
republican  prophet,  whoever  he  had  been,  has  made  allusion  to  the 
full  of  Home.  The  English  i^overnment  are  supporters  of  nionarchy 
with  its  intolerable  expenditure  and  oppressive  taxes  at  home,  while 
they  are  made  red  republicans  abroad  I  It  is  not,  however,  for  love; 
of  the  principles  of  freedom  they  squander  the  wealth  of  the  nation 
in  subsidizing  desperate  men  to  work  the  ruin  of  Catholic  dynasties, 
but  in  enmity  to  the  religion  they  profess  ;  all  this  is  only  the  means 
aimed  at  to  accomj)lish  'je  downfall  of  the  Pope.  It  is  evident  that 
if  Catholicity  continues  much  longer  to  make  the  rapid  progress  >hu 
has  been  making  for  some  years,  the  reformed  churches  must  sink 
into  obscurity,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  enormous  revenues  of  tliut 
establishment  must  be  taken  away  from  those  who  now  enjoy  it,  and 
be  converted  to  more  useful  purposes.  Hence  Rome,  the  head  of  tlie 
Catholic  world,  should  necessarily  be  destroyed,  in  order  to  carry  on: 
cifectually  those  base  views. 

t  Those  gentiles,  or  pagans,  were  tlie  iSorsemen. 

X  History  informs  us  that  the  Danes  placed  laymen  as  abbots  in 
Mie  various  churches  throughout  Ireland. 


114 


TIIK   PU0PHECIK8   OF 


One  of  them  shall  do  the  abbot  in  mv  church, 
And  he  will  not  sing:  matins; 
Neither  the  Pater  nor  Credo  shnll  be  tliere  recited, 
No  scientific  hmj^uaj^e  s[)ok.'n,  but  a  foreijjn  iararon. 

l*"or  seven  years,  shall  this  invadino;  race 
Hold  the  supreme  sovereignty  of  Eire; 
Having  a  false  abbot  in  every  abbey, 
<  )f  the  gentiles  of  Drum-duibhlinne,* 

They  will  reign  in  joy  until  the  young  man  come, 
Who  will  wrest  Eire  from  their  custody  ; 
The  power  of  the  stranger  shall  not  exist 
Ever  after  that  in  Dun-da-leithglas.f 

This  young  man  who  will  save  llanba  (Ireland) 
Shall  uot  be  a  king,  though  a  king  apparent; 
There  shall  not  be  found  in  Tara  of  Bregia 
A  host  of  sea-pirates];  governing  Eire. 


-♦♦• 


THE  PROrilECIES  OF  MAC  AULIFFE. 

TnK  following  Prophecies,  vidgarly  attributed  to  the 
inspired  genius  of  a  Mac  Aulitl'e,  of  l.)uhallow,  Co.  Cork, 

'*  Tlic  piiiTiin  Danes  of  Diibliji.     Druim-iluil'.Hlnn^. 

\-  Dowiipatrick. 

J  For7iwr<ich  sij^iiities  i\  pirate  ivs  well  ns  a  person  of  gl<rantic  stat 
ur»'.  The  natne  was  nppropriutcly  jrlven  to  the  Korse  Viking!*,  in 
consequence  of  tlielr  piratical  htibits.  The  early  invaders  of  tiic 
coii-ts  of  Ireland  wore  called  Forniorians;  they,  too,  were  settled  at 
that  early  period  in  Loehlann,  or  Jutland,  and  the  surwunding  dis- 
triojs. 


MAC    AUMFFK. 


11 


arc   verv  cuiious',   and  tloR(;rve  to  be  rescned   from   tlie 
oblivion  of  ngea.     The  one  we  present  is  usually  8tyU'/> 
Mac  Aulifle's  AoNTA,  UNIT8,   but  as  lie  seems  to   have 
•  livided   time,  beginniijg  at  some  indefinite  period    into 
OIK',  two,  tliree,  four,  «i;i'.,  the  best  transhition  that  can  be 
gi\en  to  liis  division  of  tin)e  is,  period,     Tiie  Prophecies 
of  Mac  Aulitl'e  are  so  plentiful  in  the  south  of  Ireland, 
and  held  in  such  high  esteem  by  the  people,  that  it  ap- 
pears many  of  the  copies  now  extant  had  been  made  from 
oral  recitation.     Many  copies  of  Mac  Aulitte's  j)n»phecies 
have  conie  to  hand,  but  collation  was  out  of  the  question, 
as  one  differed  so  much  frotn  the  other;  therefore,  the 
most  prudent  course  to  be  adopted,  was  to  give  the  two 
best   copies   we   had    in   our   possession.     Mac  Auliffe's 
prophecies  are  not  to  be  rejected,  since  they  contain  much 
of  the  scattered  fragments  of  Jie  prophecies  of  our  saints, 
found  in  o*,her  works,  the  originals  of  which  are  now  lost, 
or  lie  ncirlected  and  unknown  in  some  of  the  continental 
libraries.     That  the  prophecies  attributed  to  Mac  Aulifte 
are  not  really  his  own  composition  we  need  only  remark, 
that  in  all  parts  of  Ireland,  the  north  in  particular,  where 
his  name  is  not  so  much  as  known,  snatches  of  those 
pjophecics  are  frequently  heard  quoted  by  the  Irish-speak- 
ijig  poition  of  the  people.     Some  persons  assert  that  the 
prophet  Mac  Aulitie  was  a  blacksmith,  who  flourished 
about  the  middle  of  the  l7th  century.     O'Reilly,  in  liis 
''Iiisli  Writers,"  mentions  a  blacksmith  named  Mac  An 
litle,  who  lived  near  Glanmire,  County  Cork,  was  author 
of  some  poems,  and  whom  he  makes  contemporaiy  with 
Art  Mac  Cooey  of  the  Fews,  who  lived  in  1774.     There 

are  strong  reasons  for  believing  that  neither  he  of  the  l7tL 

12 


iir> 


THE   PROrilKCIES   OF 


century,  nor  the  poet  of  the  18th  century,  had  been  th« 
compiler  of  the  prophecies  we  give ;  because'  they  might 
have  then  witnessed  many  of  the  improvements  foretold, 
and  it  may  safely  be  supposed  that  neither  of  the  disciples 
of  Vulcan  had  been  in  the  possession  of  a  manor,  as  de- 
scribed in  the  text.  Hence  it  may  be  inferred  that  the 
compiler  was  f>  chief  of  Duhallow,  who  flourished  in  the 
14th  century,  as  we  have  some  reasons  to  believe. 

In  the  fii'st  period,*  the  literati  shall  have  no  place  of 

safety ; 
In  the  second  period,  no  valor  shall  be  in  the  Geraldines ; 
In  the  third  period,  my  race  shall  possess  no  power  in 

Duhallow ; 
In  the  fourth  period,  Eire  shall  be  possessed  by  the  Saxons. 
Ill  the  fifth  period,  their  crimes  will  be  treacherous  and 

deceptive ; 
The  sixth  period  shall  be  dangerous  to  the  clergy ; 
In  the  seventh  period,  they  shall  be  feeble  and  destroyed 

at  sea ; 
In  the  eighth  period,  the  Gaels  will  be  keeping  the  hills ; 
In  the  ninth  period,  the  land  shall  then  be  dear; 
In  the  tenth  period,  each  man  will  be  contending  for  his 

right. 

Each  succeeding  race  shall  become  more  prone  to  false- 
hood, 

And  each  succeeding  year  shall  become  more  wet  and 
stormy ; 

*  An  cJiead  aen.  As  it  fieeins  an  impossibility  to  fix  a  precise  date 
10  these  periods  of  time  just  now,  it  may  be  that  some  ol'  our  Mun- 
♦ter  friends  can  reiieet  some  liglit  on  the  matter. 


Old  shal 

The  En 

chj 

The  ho[ 
,  ens 
The  dan 
And  the 
The  neij 
her 

The  pec 
nes 

In  the  y 
bloi 

In  the  y 
vati 

In  the  y( 

The  Frei 
And  the 

*  Inalli 

t  Tmfa 
men  will  I 
once  more 
pressed  ha 
future  tiin 
is  Pound  ir 

X  We  a: 
and  seed  t 
sons  make 
that  year, : 
distress. 

§  In  the 


ii  . 


m'ac  aultffe. 


117 


Old  shall  not  be  loved,  and  young  women  will  lack  modesty  ; 
The  English  tongue  will  be  used  by  every  race,  and  a 
chariot  under  each  foot.* 

The  hoary  will  become  active,t  and  piles  of  battles  will 

.   ensue : 
The  daughter  will  take  advantage  of  her  mother, 
And  the  son  will  play  tricks  upon  his  father ; 
The  neighbor  will  circv.mvent  his  neighbor,  and  the  sister 
her  sister. 

The  people  of  the  world  will  rush  into  crime,  wretched- 
ness, and  penury ; 

In  the  year  of  poverty  the  furze];  shall  be  without  seed  or 
blossom. 

In  the  year  that  shall  follow,  thousands  shall  die  of  star- 
vation ; 

In  the  year  seven^  the  world  shall  be  prosperous  and  happy. 

The  French  will  undoubtedly  be  in  Eire  some  time, 

And  the  English  ftit  bears  shall  be  forced  to  growl  and  groan ; 

*  J  n  allusion  to  the  pomp  of  the  people. 

t  "fiorfa  na  Hatha,  itc.  Tliis  verse  indicates  that  tlio  demand  for 
Jiioii  will  be  so  great  that  the  aged  will  be  forced  to  become  active 
once  more.  The  Irisii  proverb  has  it :  "  When  the  old  woman  is 
pressed  hard  she  runs."  So  it  will  happen  with  the  old  men  at  a 
future  time,  very  likely  not  far  distant.  The  remainder  of  the  stanza 
is  Pound  in  St.  Columbkille  in  nearly  the  same  words. 

X  We  are  not  aware  whether  or  not  the  furze  produced  blossom 
:ind  seed  the  year  before  the  famine.  We,  however,  heard  old  per- 
sons make  the  remark.  If  the  furze  appeared  in  its  wonted  dress 
that  year,  it  is  presumed  that  some  future  year  will  usher  in  increased 
distress. 

§  In  the  yea»  seven.    Mac  Aulitic-  must  liave  meant  the  year   SQ7. 


118 


THB   PROPHECIES   OF 


The  old  tithes  shall  be  possessed  by  the  priests  as  theif 

lawful  due, 
And  old  Latin  and  the  copious  Irish  will  be  used  by  them. 

Much  news  will  be  heard  that  will  trouble  us  all, 

And  hundreds  of  Heber's  race  shall  be  banished  aeroes 

the  sea ; 
The  porch  will  be  laid  against  the  face  of  the  hills, 
And  the  mountains  will  be  meted  out  as  pasture-lands. 

An  impetuous  torrent  will  sweep  fi'om  the  mountain's  side, 
And  Peake  shall  be  in  bondage,  deprived  of  all  his  sub- 
stance; 
The  poet  shall  have  no  Irish  text,  and  your  poems  shall 

be  weak:  .  ,       .„ 

While  only  one  in  the  hundred  of  the  Irish  will  remain 


mv  woe 


! 


A  Captain  will  dwell  at  Cloch-meinc, 

A  Captain  will  be  in  Purcell's  halls, 

A  Captain  will  be  in  the  city  of  Sir  Edward, 

And  a  kind-hearted  Captain  will  be  in  my  manor. 

There  shall  come  a  gray  summer,  a  sunny  harvest, 

A  misty  winter,  a  favorable  spiiiig, 

A  fine  Christmas,  and  tat  graveyards ; 

Half  the  winter  shall  become  like  summer,* 

And  half  the  summer  like  the  winter. 

*  Leilh  an  gheimhridh,  dtc.    Could  the  old  chief  have  uorrowcl 
this  from  Nixon's  prophecy  ?    Nixon  says  :— 
«  When  summer  in  winter  shall  come, 
And  peace  is  made  in  c  cry  man's  home, 


And 


MAC   AULIFFE. 


119 


shall 


Tlien  shall  come  gory  war,  by  means  of  which  the  hanghty 

race  shall  be  subdued, 
Willi  three  great  assessments,  and  no  boasting  victory  for 

the  Saxon ; 
A  snare*  (spy)  will  be  set  on  the  road,  and  the  stones  will 

speak, 
And  every  man  in  the  field  will  have  a  sword  in  his  hand 

Dublin  shall  be  without  the  voice  of  the  Galls  ; 
Kilkenny  shall  have  a  college  in  it ; 
The  boy  will  say,  as  he  passes  along  the  road, 
'''  Is  this  the  place  where  Kilmallock  stood  !" 

Boo"s  shall  be  locked,  and  the  mountains  fenced  ; 
The  gray  horse  will  leap  over  the  lion  ; 

Then  shall  there  he  dansfer  of  war ; 

For,  though  at  night  witli  peace  the  nation  rings, 

Men  shall  rise  to  war  in  the  morning. 

There  shall  be  a  winter  council,  a  careful  Christmas, 

And  a  bloody  lent " 

Tiiere  is,  in  any  event,  much  truth  in  the  prediction  ;  our  saints 
have  foretold  the  changes  of  the  seasons,  and  we  are  all  old  enough 
to  notice  something  of  the  sort. 

*  Beid/i  Suilreibe,  dtc.  Suilreibe,  in  some  parts  of  Ireland,  is  the 
name  of  a  snare  or  noose  ;  it  also  signifies  a  spy  or  cunning  person. 
Hence  it  is  presumed  that  the  establishment  of  the  constabulary  on 
the  roads  is  here  alluded  to;  the  following  tradition  respecting  tliis 
ibrce  is  frequently  heard  '.—Black  posts  wilt  be  on  evenj  cross-road. 
Some  were  of  opinion  that  the  phrase  had  allusion  to  the  finger-posts 
set  up  at  cross-roads,  but  it  is  absurd  to  suppose  such  had  been  the 
meaning  of  the  phrase,  since  the  above  quotation  explains  it  dearly 
cMoiigh.  The  speaking  stones  mean  either  the  nulestones,  or  the 
strict  system  of  espionage  tliat  will  be  carried  on  at  this  period.  We 
ure  well  acquainted  with  the  spying  system  adopted  by  England  in 
Ireland  in  cases  of  the  slightest  emergency,  which,  in  a  proportionate 
ratio  must  necessariiv  incr«>U!*6  vvhen  real  danger  impends. 

12* 


120 


THE    PROPHECIES   OF 


Ribbons  si  ill  grow  on  the  alder-tree, 
And  incessant  frost  and  evil  shall  ensue.* 

After  the  year  of  g-oldf  the  year  of  weeping  will  follow  ; 
In  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  five  tens  and 

nineteen,;}; 
The  Frank  will  come  from  the  south,  and  the  Spaiiiard 

from  the  east, 
The  Saxon  King  will  sny  that  he  has  neither  a  son  nor 

eousin-german. 

Eio-hteeu  hundred  besides  one  thousand, 

The  feast  of  Marv  (Annunciation)   shall  reach  towards 

May ; 
And  the  feast  of  St.  John  (Baptist)  shall  fall  on  a  Friday  ; 
I'hree  Saturday's  moon,  and  a  rain"  grassy  harvest. 

*  Storms  are  always  considered  by  tlie  Irish  as  omens  of  war  and 
bloodshed,  according  to  the  proverb  -.—Kain,  and  constant  winds  an 
the  true  omens  of  bloodshed. 

t  There  is  an  Irish  phrase  in  common  use  in  which  are  recorded 
three  events,  said  to  denote  the  approach  of  the  expected  war  of 
liberation,  namely :— 27/e  i/earof  the  gold,  the  year  of  the  great  crop, 
and  the  year  of  sorrow  will  come.  These  events  are  not  easy  of  ex- 
planation, if  wo  do  not  understand  a  series  of  years  instead  of  one, 
itnd  consider  the  discovery  of  the  Californiau  and  Australian  mines 
as  the  year  of  gold.  True  it  is  that  this  plirase  was  in  use  long  before 
the  discovery  of  gold-fields  in  either  country,  but  the  year  of  gold,  the 
meaning  of  which  nobody  knew,  was  expected,  so  was  the  year  of 
the  great  crop,  and,  following  in  succession,  the  year  of  sorrow  or 
wailing.  It  is  not  very  likely,  indeed,  that  either  the  prophecy  or 
proverb  shall  he  falsified. 

X  The  year  1869.  In  this  year  the  French  will  come  from  th»' 
south,  and  the  Spaniards  from  the  east  to  Ireland;  it  is  difficult  to 
^uess  what  positions  those  nations  will  assume  in  fourteen  years 
hence,  but  it  does  not  require  the  gift  of  prophecy  to  foresee  tl.'ut  t!»e 


MAC    ArUFFK. 


121 


There  sliall  come  a  /ear  of  joy,  a  year  of  sorrow, 
A  year  of  famine,  and  a  stormy  summer ; 
A  heavy  liarvest  that  will  be  saved  with  care, 
And  a  spring  when  there  shall  be  but  few  people. 

To  one  thousand  whole,  and  eight  of  hundreds, 
Conjoin  without  fear,  five  tens  and  nine, 
The  age  of  Mary's  Son,  to  which  also  add  seven  and  nine, 
From  that  time  prostrate  shall  be  the  English  speaking 

race  forever.*  /cj/^S 


We  have  been  favored  by  a  gentleman,  who  is  an  emi- 
nent Irish  scholar  and  poet,  with  the  following  metrical 
translation  of  Mac  Auliffe's  periods  ;  we  beg  to  present  it 
to  the  reader,  as  a  specimen  of  such  form  of  translation. 

THE  TROPHECY  OF  MAC  AULTFFE. 

INTRODUCTION. 
I. 

When  the  mind  is  sad  and  weary  :  when  the  times  are 
passing  dreary, 

present  belligerent  parties,  probably  the  powers  now  neutral,  will  as- 
sume positions  in  the  great  war  different  to  those  they  now  occupy. 
No  sane  man  can  for  a  moment  think  that  the  best  Christian  bloo<l 
of  Europe  is  freely  shed  for  the  mere  purpose  of  supporting  Moslem- 
ism.  St.  Columbkille  does  not  extend  the  termination  of  Englisli  power 
in  Ireland  to  so  remote  a  date,  and  in  this  very  same  poem  it  is  as- 
jsumed  that  1867  shall  witness  the  discomfiture  of  the  English.  One. 
/lowever,  may  be  the  date  of  the  commencement  and  the  otlier  of  the 
termination  of  the  struggle. — Vide  St.  Columb. 
*  The  date  here  given  is  1867,  the  year  in  which  the  English- 

(*nf>iilrin<y  rn(*o.  «itiall  b'^  fltial'v  pvnpll/id  fi-nin  Trf>)aud        V'ld^  nHh).- 


Ill 


J22 


THE   PROPHECIES   OF 


And  the  heart  within  is  sinking  :  thinking  of  the  days  of 

yore ; 
Get  and  read  those  books  of  wonder.     Open  wide  the 

leaves  asunder ; 
Where  the  Sibyl's  voice  of  thunder  to  the  Future  opes 

the  door, 
With  awe,  and  reverence  meet,  then  listen  when  the  Sib; 

opes  the  door 

On  the  Future's  shadowy  shore. 

II. 

Heal-  Mac  Auliffe  of  the  Ealla.    Mysteries  will  the  cl)^  "^ 

tain  tell  ye, 
If  you  hear  those  olden  voices — voices  of  the  mighty  dead  ; 
Foremost  of  the  Seei-s  prophetic  :  yet  no  barbarous  Ascetic, 
Words  he  hath  so  strange,  electric,  as  would  fill  the  world 

with  dread, 
Could  they  hear  and  know  the  mystery  written  where  the 

Ella  led ; 

01  'twould  fill  the  world  with  dread  ! 


THE  PROPHECY. 


HI. 

Time  of  Times :  the  first  despised  are  the  bards  that  first 

we  prized. 
In  the  next  the  Geraldine  like  a  vine  shall  faae  away. 
The  third  shall  make  the  churchmen  stagger.     Next  the 

Saxon  proud  will  swagger. 


:-./• 


MAC    AULTFFE. 


123 


Fifth  :  my  race  t>  ill  fail  by  dagger— dagger,  sickness,  oi 

decay. 
0!  the  next,  the  Saxon  conquers;  sateless  still  with  land 

and  sea ; 

Lord  of  land,  and  Lord  ot  sf  a  1 

IV. 

Seventh:  the  Saxon's  crhnes  are  stinking.    Eighth:  tli« 
Gaels  have  hills,  Tm  thinking : 

Will  they  hold  those  beauteous  mountains  ?     Mountains 
over  valleys  fair! 

Ninth  :  the  land  shall   all  be  rented.     Tenth  :  each  man 
be  discontented : 

Each  with  broken  vows  tormented.     Sorrow's  rain  is  tail- 
ing there! 

O!  what  misery,  woe,  and  sorrow,  while  that  rain  is  fall- 


ins  there ! 


All  are  covered  with  despair. 


V; 


Then-Oh !  strange  and  dark  the  story-Active  are  the 

old  and  hoary, 
\nd  the  battle  red  is  raging-raging  'mong  the  young 

and  old ;  mi  .      * 

Daughter  cheats  the  mother  bore  her.     Sons  will  treat 

their  fathers  sorer  ;  ^ 

Neighbors  rob  their  neighbor's  store,  or  on  their  cattle  lay 

ahold.  , 

Acre  no  more  shall  be  rcspected-wuaien  sell  themselves 

for  ffold.  ,,  .        , , 

Virtue,  beauty,  all  be  sold . 


I? 


nil 


1 1 


I'M 


12i 


THK    iMiOPHECIES   OF 


VI. 

List!    the   people's  Saxon  speaking — still   their  wicked 
courses  keeping  : 

Wonder  not  the  furze  don't  blossom — blossom  not  pure 
flowers  for  crime. 

Vollows  then  a  dire  starvation.     Seven  alone  will  brin(> 
salvation 

To  the  prosperous  happy  nation — nation  formed  for  hap- 
pier time  ! 

Chanoino"  still,  comes   lurid   summer.     Harvest  voices 
sweetly  chime : 

Through  the  glad  air  sweetly  chime ! 

tIT. 

'J  lien  a  misty  winter  cometh,  and  a  sweet  spring  smiling 

bloometh. 
Child  born   of  a  Christmas  greener— greener  than   the 

healthy  frost, 
(rraveyards  fill,  and  homes  grow  sadder :  mothers  weep 

and  death  grows  gladder. 
Summer  stingeth  like  the  adder.     Many  a  life  on  roads  is 

lost. 
Stones  have  tongues,  and  men  bear  falchions  where  the 

fields  rich  harvests  boast, 

'Mong  the  swarthy  reapers  host. 

VIII. 

Now  Eblana  knows  no  danger— hears  not  now  the  voice 

of  stranger. 
A  college  stands  near  Old  Kilkenny-— Old  Kilkenny  once 

more  young. 


MAC    AULIFFE. 


l!>5 


Mark  a  place,  the  ivy  Wotting i  a  boy  goes  past  with 

satchel  trotting, 
Asks : — "  those  ruins  slowly  rotting — was  Kilmallock  ihoM 

among  ?" 
Only  rushes,  weeds,  and  willows  grow  where  Bards  have 

lived  and  sung : 

Where  the  Fenian  Bards  have  sun<>- 1 

IX. 

See  streamers  on  the  elder  growing.  The  gray  horse  o't.-r 
the  lion  going. 

Frosts  incessant,  winds  unpleasant — winds  unpleasant  con- 
stant blow\ 

A  golden  year  will  end  in  weeping:  years  full  eighteen 
hundred  keeping, 

To  them  sixty-nine  more  heaping,  and  the  Saxon  wil 
rank  low, 

Franks   and   Spaniards   coming  over,  then  will  meet  a 


shrinking  foe : 


Then  will  lay  the  Saxon  low. 


X. 

Thousand  to  eight  hundred  linking — eighteen  too  in 
Time's  sea  sinking,  [Isle  ! 

May  shall  have  the  feast  of  Mary — Mary,  guardian  of  our 

John's  great  feast  falls  on  a  Friday,  spoiling  the  old  forms 
of  my  day ; 

Three  moons  have  Saturdays  at  high  day :  Harvest  comes 
in  sickly  style :  [smile ! 

And  Ihe  spring  has  few  to  greet  it — few  to  meet  it  with  a 

All  are  sick  and  cannot  smile ! 


<|cu; 


126 


THE  rKor>iT!:ciKs  or 


XT. 


AoHiu  I  count  the  years  contrary  since  the  hour  the  So« 


nine 


HroughUhe  glad,  the  blessed  gospel-gospel  spread  from 

shore  to  shore ;  .  .    ^     , 

Add  a  thousand  to  eight  hnndrcd;  jom  five  lens,  no. 

Seven'amltnr't«ill  not  be  wondered  I  should  add  to 

'"ueU  r^l  that  moment  that  the  SWs  powe. 


When 


is  o'er, 


Ruling  from  that  hour  no  more. 
John  T.  Rowland. 


•mi 


MAC  AUUFFE'S  PROPHECIES. 

It  has  been  suggested  by  some  friends  that  the  fore- 
going  poem  of  Mac  Auliffe  is  the  same  as  the  one  given, 
but  I  minute  inspection  will  at  once  convmce  the  reado 
5  at  they  are  not  really  and  substantially  '1-  --'   ' 
style  the  language,  and  the  incidents  are  quite  diffe.ent 
Sli  it  is  Lfght  prudent  to  give  it  as  it  may  be   ha 
some  other  documents  may  turn  up  wh..^'  may  enable  us  tc 
Tllnticate  the  origin  whence  the  piece  has  been  dcnvec 
At  the  same  time  we  must  receive  the  who  e  with  ■   utioi 
in  the  absence  of  more  clear  and  certain  authorities    houg 
„.  ftnd  many  snatches  contained  in  the  piece  in  the,  vnt 
;;,  of  our  sLted  seers :  this  is  the  reason  we  are  inclined 
to°"ive  them  to  the  public  in  the  present  shape. 


Ill 


MAO   AUMFFK. 


127 


THE  PROPHECIES  OF  MAC  AUIJFFE. 

CHIEF    OF    DUIl ALLOW. 

A  HOUT  of  shoeless  horses  will  come,* 
Unbridled  will  their  numbers  go  forth, 
In  dense,  hot,  fair,  active,  earnest  divisions. 
To  depredate  the  green  district  of  Conn. 

Ye  shall  be  punisl'ied  by  the  lav  ^^  which  ye  yourselves 

have  made; 
Your  fathers  shall  become  subservient,  and  disf.ord  sown 

among  the  Gael ; 
People  will  wax  in  iniquity,  and  become  poorer, 
While  rents  shall  increase,  and  taskmasters  multiply. 

Hospitality  shall  flee,  nnd  cordial  aflfection. 

And  those  parties  v.-i!)  prostrate  the  laith  under  foot , 

None  shall  be  prevalent  without  exterior  suppoit, 

And  none  will  acknowledge  the  wretched  as  his  kindred. 

Torturing  will  be  the  news  we  shall  have  at  this  time, 
Hundreds  of  the  race  of  Heber  will  go  in  exile  over  the 

seas  ]\ 
Perches  (meastn-es)  will  be  laid  in  the  face  of  the  hills, 
And  the  mountains  with  cords  divided  for  the  herds. 

*  By  this  f*hri!le  tho  ruthless  hordes  of  invaders  are  meant.  It 
is  quito  evident  trom  this  and  the  stanzas  that  foUow,  that  the  pre- 
dictions were  written  long  before  the  time  when  Mac  Aulitfe  flour- 
ifshed, 

+  /s  (^easia,  c(;c.  This  stanza  sliows  clearly  that  the  Irish  would 
be  forced  to  fly  into  exile,  iu  order  to  make  room  for  bullocks  and 

ulujep 

13 


128 


Tui-:  rRopnEciiis  of 


m 


Pi 
ml 


Flocks  of  slic*ep  shall  occupy  the  arable  land, 
Stewards  will  bo  placed  on  every  farm; 
The  mountain  will  bellow  with  the  lowing  of  the  st£»re  ox, 
And,  O  good  God,  what  will  the  poor  then  do  1 

Waters  will  dry  up,  while  many  mills  will  need  them, 
The  blossom  of  the  wood  shall  fall,  and  the  grass  wither, 
Rape  and  cresses  shall  take  the  place  of  the  mountain 

berrv 
From  Blarney  to  the  Shannon,  where  boats  are  wont  to  sail. 

Through  mad  folly  ye  will  abandon  all  your  towns 
To  men  wearing  white  trousers  and  lace  on  their  breasts, 
Who  will  pledge  toasts  in  taverns  from  night  till  morning, 
Oh,  grief  of  my  heart!  it  will  give  reason  for  repentance. 

Green  grass  shall  grow  at  gates  and  strongholds ; 
Fvery  precious  thmg  will  be  carefully  concealed ; 
Every  worthy  young  man  in  Munster  suspected  to  possess 

wealth,  L 

Shall  be  solaced  by  being  entrapped  in  the  quirks  ot  the 

When  the  oats*  shall  begin  to  ripen,  ye  shall  hear  a 

sound  approach ; 
T'hey  who  profess  the  foolish  faith  in  Cork,  on  the  Lee, 

shall  be  on  the  retreat ; 
The  sea  shall  be  heaving  with  the  power  of  a  noisy  fleet,t 
While  the  evil-hearted  churls,  devoid  of  power,  shall  be 

leaving  in  sorrow. 
»  When  the  oats  begin  to  ripen,  or  change  their  color,  in  the  be- 

ffinnins  of  harvest.  ,  ...  .^ 

'  t  For  an  account  of  the  powerful  invading  fleet  that  will  com*  t« 

Ireland,  see  pp.  36,  38,  39,  et  alibi. 


MAC    AUr.IFFE. 


\2\) 


lliere  shall  undoubtedly  come  a  sumiuer  in  which  the  suii 

will  not  shine, 
And  the  French,  who  never  violated  their  covenant,  wilJ 

arrive ; 
The  alien  fat  bucks  who  were  accustomed  to  devour  foo<.h 
Shall  surely  meet  a  change  as  hurtful  as  the  blaze  on  a 

mountain. 

Kinsalc  is  strong,  prosperous,  and  powerful, 
And  Cork  of  the  shipping  shall  bear  the  palm  for  success ; 
The  shorn  holy  friars  will  come  hither,  [here. 

And  the  Spaniards  will  occupy  the  place  of  the  Saxons 

He  is  a  treacherous  man*  who  would  falsify  a  letter  in  a 

lay — 
For  a  great  battle  will  be  fought  that  shall  draw  sighs 

from  your  hearts ; 
A  fire  without  embers  (look  before  yon)  each  shall  meet 

in  his  path, 
Confusion !  the  treacherous  churls  will  fly  away.    • 

When  the  cuckoo  will  sing  on  a  tree  without  a  leaf. 
Sell  your  cow  and  buy  corn ; 

War  without  fear  shall  come,  and  famine  without  want, 
Covetousness  will  increase,  while  a  double  ledge  of  corn 
shall  be  on  the  ridge. 

The  Spaniards  will  come  over  and  fill  our  bays, 

They  will  leave  the  common  residents  of  Galway  headless ; 

*  This  verse  clearly  shows  that  Mac  Auliffe  was  engaged  in  ex- 
tracting those  prophecies  from  the  works  of  some  saint,  when  he  saya 
rt  1^  would  bo  I  treacherous  man  who  would  falsify  a  lay  or  poem, 


If: 


I3Q  THE   PROPHECIES   OF 

Waterfoid  shall  be  very  poor,  ifflicted,  and  weak, 
And  all  that  can  be  said  is  that  the  Saxon  hordes  had 
been  there. 

A  battle  will  be  fought  at  Dun-na-sgiath, 
Dublin  will  fall  into  decay ; 
The  Representative  of  the  king  will  be  slain 
By  the  Lord  of  Tralee,  at  Athcru  1 

My  cause  of  tears !  my  cause  of  tears !  my  cause  of  tears 

my  grief  1 
My  sorrowful,  scorching,  sickening  grief! 
Blood  and  entrails  shall  strew  the  field  of  Saingil ;         ^ 
Woe  to  him  who  cannot  run  the  day  of  the  battle  of  Sam- 

gil's  field ! 
It  is  then  Limerick  shall  be  burned  to  ashes. 

When  the  yellow  lion  will  resign  his  strength, 
And  the  speckled  thistle  its  power ; 
The  hai*p  will  sound  most  sweetly 
Between  eight  and  nine. 

la  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred,* 
Six  tens,  and  fourteen ; 
In  the  northwestern  part  of  the  world, 
There  will  be  war  and  hard  skirmishing. 

The  warf  of  the  two  Galls  will  come, 

The  two  heads  of  the  Church  shaU  fall  by  one  another ; 

*  Cannot  understand  this  date. 

+  See  the  Prophecies  of  Domlinall  Cam. 


ii^i 


MAC   AULIFFE. 


131 


A  war  will  be  waged  iu  the  eastern  world  * 
And  it  is  the  Saxons  who  shall  pay  the  piper. 

The  foregoing  is  another  of  the  abstract  prophecies  at- 
tributed  to  the  pen  of  Mac  Auliffe,  the  Duhallow  Chief,  oi 
which  the  following  metrical  translation,  by  a  gentleman 
eminently  skilled  in  his  native  language,  is  annexed. 

*  THE  PROPHECIES  OF  MAC  AULIFFE. 

Shoeless  and  unbridled  there  shall  pass  our  island  o'er, 
A  rout  of  horses  trampling  her  plains  fiom  shore  to  shore ; 
Shedding  sorrow,  and  amazement,  and  bitter  woe  upon 
The  waning  tribes  and  kindreds  of  the  beauteous  land  -f 

Conn. 
Ye  fhall  bmart  beneath  the  hiws  that  yourselves  were 

pleased  to  frame, 
Your  fathers  shall  be  scoffed  at,  the  Gael  a  hated  name; 
Then  shall  each  day  grow  harder,  all  poverty  increase. 
More  task-masters  and  tributes  must  ever  mar  your  peace. 

(Jenerosity  shall  vanish,  and  sickening  lore  shall  die, 
Those  holy  duties  darkly,  by  all  forgotten,  he ; 

.  It  may  not  be  very  unlikely  that  the  present  war  is  the  one  for»- 

her  "hare  in'the  transaction.    It  may  happen,  aoeorJu,.  to  tb. 

Eugli:*li  phrase— 

"The  unicorn  and  hon 

Fouffht  for  the  crown, 
But  little  coaly  started  up, 
And  knocked  both  down." 

la* 


132 


THE  PROPHECIES    OF 


No  man  shall  then  avail,  but  so  he  keep  him  with  his  hand, 
Alone  and  undefended  the  weak  will  have  to  stana. 

Tho'  it  wring  me  as  I  see  it  I  must  shape  the  future's  tal.-, 
Hundreds  of  the  race  of  Hcber  on  the  exile's  rMce  must 

sill  ' 

Measures' will  be  laid  against  the  rugged  hills  and  rocks 
And  the  heathery  mountain's  freedom  be  subdued  to  feed 
the  ox. 

Each  clan  in  its  own  limits  shall  by  sheep  supplanted  be, 
On  each  man's  land  a  steward  shall  be  set  to  oversee ; 
The  mountain  shall  give  back  but  the  lowing  of  the  steer, 
Thou,  God,  art  wise,  and  knowest  what  the  poor  wid  have 
to  fear. 

The  wat^r-brooks  shall  parch,  no  sound  of  mills  be  made, 
The  forest-blossom  drop,  and  the  meadow  grasses  fade ; 
The  water-cress  must  grow  where  the  daisy  springeth  now, 
From  Blarney  to  where  Shaanon  laves  the  sailing  vessel's 
prow. 

Ve  shall  leave  your  fenced  cities,  and  yield  them  to  a  race, 
With  white  garments  on  their  legs,  and  good  store  of 

golden  lace ;  ,     ,  - 

Prinkinjr  healths  and  making  meny  thro'  all  the  hours  ot 

.  ",  .  [light. 

And,  alas,  from  all  your  sorrows  ever  quaffing  their  de- 
Desolation  shall  clothe  gateways  with  green  herbs  like 

the  field. 
All  precious  things  and  jewels  will  be  jealously  concealed  ; 


MAC    AITLIFFE. 


133 


Each  vouta  ?f  name  in  Munster,  that  rumor  saith  liath 

aught, 
Shall,  by  the  cuTining  tricksters,  be  lightly  sold  and  bought. 

At  the  turning  of  the  oats,  ye  shall  hear  a  growing  sound, 
The  fanatics  of  Cork  by  the  Lee  shall  lose  their  ground  ; 
The  foaming  sea  shall  bellow  'neath  the  ploughing  of  a 

fleet, 
And  the  false  churls  in  sadness  be  driven  to  retreat. 

There  shall  doubtless  be  a  summer  when  the  sun  won^'i 

brightly  shine. 
And  the  Frank,  who  neV  bro'^e  faith,  shall  come  east 

Avard  o'er  the  brine ; 

Then  the  glutton  stranger  towns,  where  food  was  never 

rcrlare ! 
rare  •- 

Woe,  woe  to  them,  shall  kindle  with  the  fixed  mountain's 

I  foresee  Kinsale  all  prosperous,  increasing  day  by  day 
And  Cork's  fair  port  that  merits  the  palm  from  ev'ry  bay  ; 
The  blessed  shaven  friars  shall  come  across  the  sea,     [be. 
And  where  the  Saxon  has  been,  there  shall  the  Spaniard 

He  would  be  a  treacVrous  man  who  would  falsify  a  lay. 
Your  hearts  shall  grieve  to  witness  the  battle  of  that  day  ! 
See,  a  fire  without  embers  impede  your  path  along. 
Wigs  on  the  green !  the  churlish  horde  shall  join  the  ex- 
ile throng. 

When  the  cuckoo  shall  be  h«ard  on  a  tree  without  a  leaf; 
Sell  thy  cow,  and  buy  thee  corn,  so  shalt  thou  miss  the 
grief; 


Hi; 


134:  THE   PR0PHECIE3   OP   MAC   AtLIFFE. 

War  without  fear  shall  come  that  time,  and  taniiue  with- 

out  need,  ,  ,  , 

The  furrow  shall  bear  double,  but  double  each  man  s  greed. 

The  Spaniards  shall  come  over  and  fill  our  ev'ry  bay, 
And  the  ruler  of  fair  Galway  shall  perish  from  their  way ; 
Waterford  will  feebly  sink,  conquered  by  despair, 
And  'twill  be  but  a  legend  that  the  Saxons  have  been  theie. 

At  Dunnaskie  how  bloodily  a  fight  must  yet  be  fought! 
Proud  Dublin  shall  be  overthrown,  and  lowly  turned  to 

naught ;  .        t        i 

The  king's  lieutenant  too  must  fall,  believe  I  read  you 

And  by  the  good  Lord  of  Tralee  it  shall  happen  at  Athcru. 

Alas,  alas,  alas  again!  an  hundred  times  alas! 

Alas!  my  spirit  telleth  me  this  too  must  come  to  pass. 

Blood  shall  be  spilled  on  Singland's  field,  and  entrails 

strewed  about;  , 

Woe  to  the  lame  or  slow  of  foot  the  day  of  S.ngland  s  rout ! 

Then  Limerick  shall  be  burning  in  spite  ct  tow'r  and 

■TwixTeight  and  nine  your  ears  shall  hear  the  harp's  be- 
witching note ;  ,    ,  1 1   i 
Tlie  yellow  lion's  strength  shall  fail,  and  the  speckled 

thistle's  green,  ,      ,     ,       i 

li,  the  year  one  thousand  seventeen,  seven  hundred  and 

fourteen, 
In  the  northwest  regions  of  the  world's  extensive  stage, 
In  bloody  wars  and  struggling  conflicts  they'll  engage. 


\.  I 


rRKDICTIONS   OF   FIOXN   MAC   CUMIIAILL.        loO 

Two  potent  Galls  shall  vigorously  wage  war  with  vengeful 

oTGeu 

And  the  heads  of  both  their  churches  shall  lose  power  as 

their  meed ; 
In  the  eastern  world  a  war  shall  rise,  and  hear  it  truly 

said,  . , 

That  the  piper  by  the  Saxons  shall  there  he  amply  p.nd. 


,1 


■^*»- 


THE  PREDICTIONS  OF  FIONN  MAC  CUMHAILL. 

[The  following  prophetic  verses  are  usually  attribute.! 
toFionn  Mac  CumhaiU,  the  celebrated  Druid   and  chief 
commander  of  the  Fenii,  or  Irish  National  Guards     There 
can  be  no  doubt  but  the  Druids,  like  the  Magi,  and  other 
pagan  priests,  delivered  the  oracles  of  their  deities,  and 
predicted,  in  a  certain  obscure  way,  future  events,  since 
we  find  some  very  ancient  predictions  attributed  to  them. 
Fionn  Mac  Cumhaill  is  celebrated  in  popular  tradition  and 
legends  for  the  gifts  of  foreknowledge  he  possessed.    Yet, 
thOTch  he  may  have  left  the  substance  of  these  predic- 
tions^to  the  world,  it  was  not  in  its  present  shape,  for,  it 
is  clear,  his  predictions  have  been  reduced  to  metre  by  a 
much  more  modern  sage,  as  the  language  and  versihcatio. 
amply  testify.    The  poem  goes  in  the  usual  style  ot  Kn- 
ian  pieces;  St.  Patrick  requests  the  royal  bard  to  re  ate 
what  Fionn  foretold  concerning  Ireland.    Oism  replies. 
But  since  we  find  the  substance  in  some  instances  similar 
to  the  events  predicted  by  other  Irish  seers,  we  must 


% 


EiSI 


^3(5  THE  PREDICTIONS   OF 

„eee.arny  conclude  ^^  ^^ ^^£2: ^^^^ 
traded  both  from  the  works  of  Christian  as  well 

writers.] 

Patrick.    Olsin,  please  to  relate  to  us 

Some  portion  of  Mac  Cumhaiirs  Fe^ictions 

A  "d  on  what  occasion  they  have  been  predicted, 

Thou  angelic  man  who  has  adored  the  true  God. 

Oisin.    I  will  tell  you  a  tale  full  of  seriousness, 

O  chaste  Patvict,  son  of  Arpluinn ; 

It  will  grieve  your  heart  to  hear 

The  various  changes  unfolded  by  prediction. 

As  Fionn  once  sat  facing  towards  the  east, 
o/a  cliff  overlooking  a  glen  -  Binead-  (Howth), 
He  saw  a  dark  cloud  approach  from  the  north, 
Which  covered  Ireland  in  an  instant. 

They  who  sat  next  Fionn  Mac  Cumhaill, 
Sfgreat  king  of  Almhain  (Allen  in  Kildare)  , 
Were  I  myself,  and  Osgar  the  serious. 
With  Caelte,  the  son  of  Eonan. 

We  three  with  one  breath  said 

To  the  renowned  ^i^g  of  Alml^"J„  ^^^  ^^^^^ 

Tell  us  the  meaning  ot  this  Jart  tiou 

Which  has  enveloped  Ireland  in  an  instant. 

Caelte  the  beloved  then  said 
To  the  renowned  king  of  Almh^m ; 
„P,,,e  your  thumb  of  oreU^^^^^^ 
And  let  us  remain  no  longer  lu  ij. 


R  ,a! 


FIONN   MAC   CITMUAILL. 


137 


W'.nmi      *'  Alas !  0  Caelte  the  beloved, 
Song  uutU  the  meaning  predicted  will  come  to  p^^- 
Vliens  from  beyond  the  raging  ocean  L'"    • 

Wmcome  hitlL  to  inflict  great  evih  on  the  people  of  Ire- 

They  will  devastate  all  Ireland, 

Her  fertile  plains  and  verdant  mountams; 

For  two  hundred  years  in  full,  ,  .„  „,^„, 

Shall  the  surface  of  Ireland  remam  subject  to  them. 

They  will  not  leave  the  least  germ  of  prosperity  after  th^n 
So  thlt  it  will  be  difficult  for  the  people  to  bear  up  aga,nst 

their  oppression,  ,  .      . 

The  numbers  who  shall  be  slain  by  their  machmations 
Shall  remain  as  a  stain  upon  their  sovereignty. 

On  a  Wednesday  a  man  will  go  on  a  distant  journey, 
The  consequence  shall  prove  ruinous  to  Ireland  ; 
Mae  Murchadh,  the  obstinate  demon, 
And  be-demoned  shall  he  become  on  his  return. 

The  career  of  that  Icing  shall  be  unfortunate  : 

His  residence  shall  be  unprotected ; 

ie  shall  not  leave  behind  him  a  sou  or  progeny  m  repute. 

Though  the  recital  is  painful  to  us. 

Leinster  shall  first  be  seized  by  this  people ; 
Ihe  accomplishment  of  it  is  a  tribulation  to  my  heart , 
No  lvin.r  will  rule  over  them,  but  murky  demons, 
No  Fenian  baud  shall  then  exist  to  release  the  people. 

They  will  destroy  Meath,  and  beautiful  Munster, 
Er  affliction  of  injustice  will  not  even  then  be  abated 


\ 


'h 


13S 


THE   PREDICTIONS   OT 


They  will  then  commence  to  erect  dark  towers;— 
Oh  I  how  difficult  it  will  be  avenged  on  them  . 

Di-o-ial  and  Ulster  the  prosperous, 

Thly  will  reduce  under  tyrannous  bondage ; 

Utuier  their  relentless  government, 

All  Connaught  will  submit  to  its  final  destruction. 

The  posterity  of  Conall  and  Eoghan  the  hospitable, 
Shall  be  reluctantly  forced  to  bend  under  that  yoke  ; 
They  shall  groan  under  that  dark,  unjust  bondage, 
For  three  hundred  years  in  full. 

Their  first  battle  will  not  be  met  with  vigor  and  resolution, 
It  shall  not  be  a  battle,  but  the  derout  of  a  timid  multi- 

tude ; 
The  battle  of  Cnuca  on  three  other  battles, 
According  as  the  King  of  Heaven  ordained. 

The  king  of  the  Saxons  will  come  to  them  in  high  spirits ; 
To  reprehend  and  interrupt  them  ; 
Until  a  battle  will  be  fought  on  the  boisterous  mam 
Their  animus  will  be  inimical  to  the  men  of  Ireland. 

He  (the  king)  will  appoint  a  man  to  hold  his  place  (a 
locum  tenens)y 

By  whose  authority  laws  and  ordinances  shall  pass ; 

He  will  be  said  to  be  a  man  of  truth, 

But  he  will  be,  indisputably,  a  circumventor. 

In  the  midst  of  very  troublous  times, 

When  their  cares  will  be  brought  up  to  the  highest  pitch, 

A  man  afflicted  with  a  leprosy  shall  rule 

The  kingdom  of  Ireland  for  seven  years. 


FIONN   MAO   CUMIIAILL. 


13!) 


Anoihcr  raliant  man  will  come  liitlier, 
liv  advice  of  the  leper  ruler ; 
To  fio-ht  a  battle  with  apparent  vigor, 
With  the  Donn,  single-hatided. 

A  ceitain  man  shall  fall  in  the  conflict,  [most  pitch  ; 

In  which  his  power  and  value  shall  be  extended  to  the  ut- 
After  this  event  the  leper  shall  be  subject  to  deep  sorrow, 
In  consequence  of  the  fears  he  will  entertain  for  the  safety 
of  his  people. 

Tlie  Donn  of  the  rings  will  then  start  into  power, 
He,  the  furious,  the  cautious,  the  compact-keeper, 
Will  fio-ht  three  battles,  without  the  least  timidity. 
During  his  career,  in  Ireland. 

A  battle  will  be  fought  at  Ath-seanaich  (Ballyshannon),. 
In  which  the  Irish  shall  labor  un'^er  a  deception ; 
The  deceiver  of  the  Irish  shall  be  slain  in  the  battle, 
And  one  of  the  foreigners. 

The  Donn  (brown-haired)  man  without  rashness, 

A  pillar  in  battle  and  conflict, 

Shall  die  through  the  virulence  of  one  hour's  illness 

Without  remedy,  or  an  individual  to  compassionate  himi. 

Nine  years  after  that  period, 

Tiiere  shall  be  a  general  slaughter  of  the  Irish  people, 
So  that  none  shall  be  supposed  to  survive,  [sacre  ■ 

I  hough  all  the  Irish  shall  not  be  slain  in  the  great  mas- 

That  carnao-e  will  afterwards  be  avenged,        [supineness, . 
When  the  people  of  Munster  will  grow  ashamed, of.  their. 

14 


uo 


THE   PKEDICTIONS   OF 


In  tl.e  excitement  of  the  warriors  of  the  Wis, 

In  their  excited  state  abroad  they  shall  be  overreached. 

Two  battles  will  be  Touglit  in  Munster,^ 

The  third  will  be  fought  on  tiie  side  ot  a  nil ; 

:\  battle  will  be  fought  in  beauteous  Meath  ; 

'I'he  King  of  Heaven  will  shield  them. 

The  son  of  the  king  of  Saxon  will  eome  over  the  sea, 
I  long  for  his  arrival,  though  not  for  love  of  him ; 
The  manifest  consequence  of  his  coming  shal   be, 
That  the  strangers  shall  be  expelled  beyond  tae  sea. 

This  prince  who  will  come  hither  across  the  sea  [eigner.  ■ 
Shall  bo  shamelessly  accompanied  by  a  great  force  of  tor 
lie  shall  not  effect  a  pacification  in  the  country, 
l]ut  will  augment  the  previous  disturbance. 

His  sovereignty  shall  extend  over  the  eastern  country  and 

here 
IIo  will  rule  both  nations  by  the  same  code  of  laws, 
The  same  measure  of  line  and  foot  shall  prevail, 
But  after  that  shall  injustice  be  dealt. 

One  half  of  the  people  of  Ireland  will  muster 
Acrain^t  tho.e  forces  who  will  come  hither  across  the  sea; 
These  here  will  wreak  severe  vengeance 
Upon  them  for  their  journey  hither. 

Like  a  name  of  love  and  grateful  friendship  they  will  unite, 
The  Galls  and  the  Gaels  with  pure  hearts, 
Ac^ainst  the  obdurate  strangers ;  ,    .       r     i 

Uow  pleasing  it  is  to  me  that  they  will  change  their  policy  . 


1    , 


and 


FIONN   MAC   CUMIIAILL. 


Ul 


They  will  engage  tliem  in  a  vigorous  unfliucliinf,^  battle, 
And  tlieir  exertions  will  le  inrrked  with  determination  ; 
He  and  ids  forces  shall  be  slain, 
(Jonti2:ucu8  to  Mullach-maisteaQ. 

Another  powerful  king  will  come, 

Who  will  join  the  struggle  with  vigor ; 

He  and  his  men  shall  then  be  slain, 

In  the  battle  of  Mullaghmast  of  the  great  feats; 

Thirty  years  in  full  shall  pass. 

Without  either  battle  or  conflict ; 

None  under  the  canopy  of  the  sky  will  oppose  them, 

And  no  people  will  be  equal  to  them. 

Until  strangers  will  come  from  the  east, 

To  take  revenge  of  them  for  the  carnage  made  by  theni 

These  will  come  from  Spain  in  the  South ; 

it  will  be  improper  to  remain  in  their  vicinity. 

Then,  the  battle  of  Saingil  will  be  fought, 
Saino-oal  the  site  of  numerous  violent  contentions ; 
Neither  thj  Galls  nor  the  Gaels 
Never  fouf^ht  so  hard  contested  a  battle  in  Ireland. 

In  this  battle,  concerning  which  I  speak  to  you, 
The  Buireach  (champion,  &c.)  of  Saingeal  will  join  ; 
The  strangers  shall  be  plunged  in  sorrow  after  it. 
And  their  forces  shall  be  disheartened. 

A  man  of  loio  condition  of  the  family  of  O'Brien 
Shall  command  in  that  battk  with  great  eclat ; 


U2         PREDICTIONS   or   FIONN    MAC    CUMHAIIX. 

He  will  oxpcl  out  of  extensive  Mnnster, 

Very  proiK'rlv,  all  Uie  race  >vho  use  a  foroigu  jargolL 

Three  ilays  shall  the  battle  last, 
Fouc^ht  a<niinst  the  son  of  n  Bovcreigti  pnnce ; 
At  the  er^  of  three  days  he  shall  be  viotonous, 
After  having  slain  their  chief  men. 

The  five  provinces  of  Ireland  w'ill  then  rise  up, 
And  join  iiiin  with  irrepressiVAe  resolution ; 
May  the  beloved  Ruler  of  the  universe, 
Support  the  people  of  every  province  t 

The  plundered  descendants  of  kings  will  rise  up, 
Who  have  been  groaning  under  the  Saxon  race, 
To  take  revenge  of  that  wicked  people  ; 
It  will  be  just  they  should  do  that. 

Sriamralla  of  Derry  will  rise  up, 

To  spill  their  blood  without  internussion  ; 

Durin^r  a  month  after  that  battle 

He  will  continue  to  hue  them  down  with  earnestnoa^ 

Srianoallach  from  Derry  in  the  north, 
\nd  ilugh  the  pure  with  great  success  ; 
Though  the  time  of  their  career  is  far  distant, 
They ''shall  associate  with  angels  in  Heaven  . 

1  will  continue  my  discourse  no  longer,  ' 

Sil!  havdsWp.  and  adversity  shall  be  the  ron,o„  o,  the 
Galls  after  that  time ;  ,„ 

Thoush  their  crimes  shall  be  dreadful  to  record,    fe  .U  • 
The  pity  for  their  condition  shall  exceed  the  horror  of  the,, 


tL   PBOFHKCV. 

OUin.  0  Patrick,  son  of  ArpUiin  tl.c  ^euo^vnea, 
Tliou  courageous  guide  of  fair  fame  ; 
Supplicate  your  King  to  grant  pardon 
\o  Osgan,  and  to  myself,  Oiein. 


143 


-♦••-•- 


PROPHECY. 

FIONN    MAC    CUMHAILL   CECINIT. 

Thou  woman  wlio  spcakest  to  me  from  the  calf,     [moio 
There  is  another  matter  which  troubles  my  .^md  much 
An  important  vision  has  happened  to  me, 
Which  has  deprived  me  both  of  sense  and  power. 

A  Tailgin  will  come  hither  across  the  stormy  sea  ;     [me  ; 
I  do  not  look  upon  the  event  as  bad,  nor  shall  it  be  bad  lui 
He  will  bless  Ireland  seven  times, 
And  groat  dignity  shall  attend  his  advent. 

Thev  will  have  churchyards  aod  royal  mansions  in  greai 

splendor. 
His  deeds  shall  be  excellent  in  every  mdance ; 
It  shall  be  a  fortunate  occurrence  for  every  person  who 

may  sec  him,  ,  , 

For  he  will  lead  great  numbers  of  people  into  the  house 

of  God. 

There  shall  be  buildings  raised  with  stone  and  lime, 
They  shall  be  built  strongly  and  substantially  ; 
Herbs  and  esculent  roots  will  be  planted. 
And  will  vegetate  from  their  roots. 


■I 


,,i3 


144 


A   PROrnKCT. 


All  lau  Is  shall  bo  measured  with  nicely, 

A„a  heavy  rents  imposed  upon  them  with  injustice 

T  :^-t     lultivatetheirgardeusafterthefashiono  thoGam 

And  they  will  plant  great  numbers  of  trees  in  them. 

It  i»  not,  however,  on  that  account  1  feel  most  grieved 
;1„1  on  account  of  the  eo.m.loss  hordes  of  green  Gall, 

who  will  be  here ;  ,       , 

Andlhal  I  myself  and  my  Fenii  shall  not  be  then  here, 
To  have  the  pleasure  of  expelling  those  strangers. 

The  Ardrioh  (Supreme  King)  will  eomc^^m  the  north, 
\nd  will  enn'age  in  a  hard  course  of  warfare  , 
M  make:  public  procla,«afK,n  of  1  s  anger^ 
In  consociuence  of  which  the  warfare  shall  be  blood,. 

Near  Sligo  the  warfare  shall  take  place  _ 

From  which  shall  result  advantage  to  the  Gaels , 

0  woman,  believe  in  the  King  of  kmgs  . 
From  whom  you  can  acquire  greater  ixiwer. 

1  am  the  principal  sage  among  the  aiels  : 
'Hie  SON  OF  GOD  will  bring  me  to  Heaven  . 
Though  I  have  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with  wonien 
Thehlnectionhasbeen  productive  of  no  advantage  to  ™ 

Your  calf  is  outside  nnder  a  white  thorn-bvish, 
routiLvuous  to  your  house,  for  some  time ; 
tS  I  have'had  much  dealings  with  wonien. 
Their  com  ection  has  been  of  no  advantage  to  me. 


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Bridge's  Ancient  History.  ^       . 

Bridge's  Modem  Histo^'.    »  j^.^^^ralism,       • 
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150 

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"    Second     " 
"    Third 
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1  25 

0  75 
0  20 
0  31 
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0  75 

2  00 

6  00 
0  60 

0  90 

1  00 
1  25 
063 

1  00 
8  00 

2  CO 
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20  00 

2  00 

0  40 

1  50 

1  50 

2  50 
1  60 
0  60 

0  90 
020 

1  00 
260 


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Pastorini's  History  of  the  Church,  . 
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Poems,    fey  Griffin, 

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By  Mangan, 

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160 

1  25 

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1  00 

0  40 

5  00 

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30  00 

80  00 

15  00 

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5  00 

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10  00 

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25  00 

80  00 

500 

30  00 

25  00 

13  00 

40  00 

800 

6  00 

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10  «) 

200 

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0  75 

0  75 

0  60 

1  60 

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Beevo'B  Biblo  History, "  "" 

Religion  in  Society,     .       .       •       -,,  ,•       •      i^ 

Resume  of  Modltationa.    By  Bro.  Philippe,        "  "" 

Revelationa»of  St.  Bridget,        .       .       • 

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Willy  Burke, 

New  Lights  ;  or,  Life  in  Galway,  . 
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Ten  Stories,       ..... 

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The  Exile  of  Tadmor, 

Tales  and  Stories,    .... 


00 
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1  00 
050 
050 
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0  81 

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400 

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1  60 

1  00 
100 

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1  50 


2  50 
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0  75 
060 
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400 

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8  60 
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100 
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60 
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75 


1  00 


25 

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25 


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